Russia Energy Giant Stops Gas Supplies To Latvia

The Russian energy giant Gazprom says it has suspended gas supplies to Latvia.

Latvia becomes the latest EU country to experience such action amid tensions over Ukraine.

Gazprom accused Latvia of violating conditions of purchase but gave no details of that alleged violation.

Latvia relies on neighbouring Russia for natural gas imports, but gas forms only 26% of its energy consumption.

Meanwhile, EU states have accused Russia of weaponising gas exports in retaliation for far-reaching Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.

According to reports, Gazprom sharply cut gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline on Wednesday to about 20% of its capacity.

This comes following EU rejection of Russia’s demand that member states should pay for Gazprom gas in rubles, not euros, which EU says there is no contractual condition for ruble payments.

Since Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine and the tightening of Western sanctions, Gazprom has suspended gas deliveries to Bulgaria, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and the Netherlands over non-payment in rubles, and has also halted gas sales to Shell Energy Europe in Germany.

The EU is now striving to boost gas imports from elsewhere, including liquefied natural gas, LNG from Norway, Qatar, and the US.

BBC/CO