A week before Saeima’s vote for the approval of PM Krišjānis Kariņš’s new government, the candidate for the post of minister of climate and energy Raimonds Čudars remains uncertain where his office will be located.
In his interview to TV3 programme 900 seconds, Čudars said the location of the office of the new ministry is a technical issue. However, he allowed it could be put in a building of an existing ministry.
When asked if the new ministry could need new workers, Čudars said the human resources freed as a result of reorganisation of existing ministries – Ministry of Economics and Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development – are sufficient for the new ministry to operate.
He stressed the government must not hesitate or slow the creation of this ministry, as it needs to start operating as soon as possible.
When asked if he thinks this new ministry should take charge over the environment along with energy, climate, Čudars said these sectors are closely tied, adding hat initially the topic of adding it to the new ministry’s duties was discussed. However, it was rejected by the coalition.
«I believe we could work together,» admitted Čudars, saying that changes may come in time.
As for priorities, the politician said Latvia must become one of the biggest exporters of green energy in the near future. At the same time, he said the base energy loads remain and will remain provided by natural gas. To change this, he said, decades must pass.
He also stressed the importance of equipping private homes with solar panels and developing wind turbine parks in Latvia.
The Saeima plans to vote on the approval of the new government next week.