Latvia Immigration focus on Latvia immigration economy: The Latvian government has recently finalized a plan to break up the national natural gas monopoly, Latvijas Gaze, with completion expected by the end of 2017.
The Latvian government stated that this move is in compliance with EU regulations and that the breakup of Latvijas Gaze is intended to promote competition. However, this plan may lead to conflict between this Baltic nation and its sole natural gas supplier, Gazprom, which holds a 34% stake in Latvijas Gaze.
It is reported that the German energy group E.on is currently seeking to sell its 47.2% stake in Latvijas Gaze, but the sale process has been put on hold due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of this Latvian utility company.
The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers recently approved amendments to the Energy Law, which require Latvijas Gaze to establish a separate, independent company to operate the country's main natural gas pipelines and underground natural gas storage facilities by April 3, 2017. By the end of 2017, the ownership of natural gas transmission and storage operations must be separated from natural gas sales.