Baltic States – CIS, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Gas, Latvia

Incukalns gas storage facility.

The economy minister informed the business information portal Nozare.lv that he visited Germany last week, where he met with officials to discuss Latvia and the region's energy independence.

The minister met with members of the German parliament's economic and energy committee, as well as representatives from the Federation of German Industries. During the meetings, matters related to the possible impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on Latvia's energy independence were discussed.

Dombrovskis informed the German parliament members about the possibility of establishing an interconnection, as well as develop the Dobele gas storage facility into a regional gas infrastructure object and utilizing the facility's potential to store gas reserves.

''It is time to remember about the potential of our underground gas storage capabilities in Dobele, as this facility could serve as a regional importance gas infrastructure object and help us solve our energy independence problems,'' the economy minister emphasized.

As reported, last year, then Economy Minister Daniels Pavluts said that the Dobele gas storage facility makes sense if Europe is interested in it and if Europe's gas supply system needs its capacity and resources. ''If Europe needs the facility's capacity, there is potential,'' he said.

Pavluts explained that there is a point to developing the Dobele gas storage, but only if it is not connected with Gazprom.

''It is within Latvia's interests that this solution is not connected with the dominant player on the gas market,'' Pavluts said.