Latvia's gas monopoly challenges steps to liberalise the market

Latvijas Gaze AS

18/09/2015 09:45

RIGA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Latvia's gas monopoly Latvijas 
Gaze  GZE1R.RI  said on Friday it couldn't provide third-party 
access to other suppliers because the country failed to meet 
minimum import levels agreed with Russia's Gazprom last year. 
    Latvia's energy market regulator approved third-party access 
rules regarding the country's gas infrastructure, saying that 
they would pave the way for consumers to seek alternative 
suppliers.  
    "In regard of Latvia's failure to meet the take-or-pay 
conditions agreed with the natural gas supplier ... supplies 
from other suppliers are currently impossible," Latvijas Gaze, 
said in a statement. 
    Russia's Gazprom  GAZP.MM , is currently the sole gas 
supplier to the Baltic state, and owns 34 percent of Latvijas 
Gaze, which sells, transports and stores gas. 
 
 (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Susan Fenton) 
 ((nerijus.adomaitis@thomsonreuters.com; +47 9027 6699; Reuters 
Messaging: nerijus.adomaitis.thomsonreuters@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: LATVIA GAS/