Energy, Gas, Latvia, Taxation

Adrians Davis.

"We simply upset the public when raising gas tariffs, which for any consumer is highly unpleasant. As a result, only slightly more than three million lats comes into the budget, which is a laughable sum," said Davis.

In his opinion, the solution is very simple. "The Saeima votes, and it is as simple as that."

Davis admitted that excise tax is imposed on natural gas in many European Union member states, and that this is connected to the directing of resources to renewable energy projects, new storage compounds, or the increasing of reserves, writes LETA.

"These decisions are far-sighted; the only question is in which country and at which moment such decisions should be taken," indicated Davis, adding that the decision taken in Latvia to introduce excise tax on gas meant a four to seven percent rise in gas tariffs for consumers.

As reported, the opposition parties in the Saeima have decided to strive for the abolition of excise duty on natural gas, and there were several inconclusive votes on Monday on the issue of suspending the tax until 2014.

The Saeima Presidium has called for a third extraordinary sitting today, where the agenda includes the matter of amendments to the law "On Excise Tax" foreseeing the abolition of excise duty on natural gas.