Latvian Public Utilities Commission (SPRK) has passed amendments to the regulations that govern the use of Inčukalns underground gas storage facility in order to enhance the security of Latvia’s natural gas supplies and ensure a sufficient enough volume of gas for the next cycle, the regulator reports.
«Amendments will have a positive effect both on end users of natural gas, because security of supplies will be increased, and system users, because the requirement to take out stores at the end of the cycle will be reduced,» said SPRK chairperson Alda Ozola.
Amendments were developed in cooperation with natural gas system operator JSC Conexus Baltic Grid (Conexus).
To promote the largest possible amount of stores in the facility for the next cycle, i.e. 1 May 2022, Conexus will be able to organize pumping of gas in April before the start of the next cycle. An announcement will be published on their website.
SPRK notes that the stores that have formed in the facility as a result of pumping in more gas will be transferred to the next storage cycle. The user of the gas supply system will have the option to choose the way how their owned gas stores will be transferred to the next cycle at the end of the current one.
According to the procedure detailed in amendments, on 2 May Conexus will inform users about the volume of stores not yet reserved for the 2022/2023 cycle.
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The amendment project clarifies the application of regulations in situations if Latvia declares one of the warning or crisis levels in gas supply sector as detailed in EU regulations. According to amendments, if a state administration institution sets up special gas supply security obligations, the system operator and system users will have to follow them even in a situation if they do not meet regulations that govern Inčukalns underground gas storage facility.
During discussions of the amendment project, which lasted between 10th and 24 March, SPRK received reports from seven energy supply companies – JSC AJ Power Gas, Conexus, JSC Eesti Energia, JSC Eesti Gaas, Lietuvas Ignitis, JSC Latvijas Gāze and JSC Rīgas Siltums, as well as Finland’s energy regulator. A total of ten commentaries were received. After the exchange of opinions, which took place 30 March, all relevant comments were taken into account.
As previously reported, in response to the increased tension in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, SPRK received a proposal from Conexus for amendments to the gas storage facility’s regulations on 25 February. Considering the geopolitical situation and that natural gas is a very important resource for Latvia’s economy, SPRK supported the proposal and commenced development of amendments to the regulations that govern the use of Inčukalns underground gas storage facility.
Regulator changes Inčukalns gas facility regulations to protect supplies
