EU says Latvia must open up its gas market

Latvijas Gaze AS

02/12/2015 15:22

OSLO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Latvia is no longer excused from EU 
rules obliging it to open up its gas market to competition now 
the country can access alternative supplies, thanks to a key 
pipeline upgrade in neighbouring Lithuania, the European 
Commission has told the Baltic state in a letter. 
    "This pipeline, used in conjunction with the Klaipeda LNG 
terminal, will allow a substantial part of Latvia's peak 
consumption of 12.5 million cubic metres/day to come from an 
alternative source," the letter seen by Reuters said. 
    "The date of commissioning in December 2015 would thus set 
the end date of Latvia's derogation as an isolated market and 
the date from which Latvia must fully apply the provisions of 
Directive 2009/73/EC (Gas Directive)," it added. 
 
 (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Greg Mahlich) 
 ((nerijus.adomaitis@thomsonreuters.com; +47 9027 6699; Reuters 
Messaging: nerijus.adomaitis.thomsonreuters@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: LATVIA GAS/