Latvian firms buy Russian gas, pay in euros - Latvijas Gaze (updated)

Latvijas Gaze AS

29/07/2022 13:28

(Adds company statement)
    VILNIUS, July 29 (Reuters) - Latvian energy firm Latvijas
Gaze is currently buying gas from Russia and paying in euros
rather than the roubles required when trading with Russian gas
giant Gazprom  GAZP.MM , the Baltic company said on Friday.
    "We are buying gas from Russia, but not from Gazprom. We are
receiving it from another provider," Latvijas Gaze spokesperson
Anastasia Petere told Reuters.
    "We are not the only ones in Latvia, there are also other
companies that are receiving gas from Russia," she said.
    Latvijas Gaze declined to name its supplier, citing business
confidentiality, adding that it was paying in euros as required
under Latvia's regulatory framework.
    Unlike neighbouring Lithuania, which has banned imports of
Russian gas, Latvia will not do so until the end of 2022.
    "Under the amendments to the Energy Law in force since (July
28), natural gas supplies from Russia shall be prohibited as of
(Jan. 1) 2023. Up until that date, natural gas supplies from
Russia are allowed," the company said in a separate statement.
    Latvian TV station LTV on Thursday reported that Latvijas
Gaze was buying Russian gas and paying for it in euros.
    Moscow at the end of March demanded foreign buyers start to
pay for gas in roubles or risk losing their supply.

 (Reporting by Augustas Stankevicius, writing by Terje Solsvik,
editing by Essi Lehto, Kirsten Donovan)
 ((terje.solsvik@thomsonreuters.com; +47 918 666 70))