Although the heating season has not yet begun in Latvia, the price of electricity in Latvia and other Baltic States continues going up. In July the price of electricity in all three Baltic States grew rapidly, reaching new records. Although electricity prices are up in all three Baltic States, it is the most apparent in Latvia and Lithuania, where month’s price for electricity was EUR 304.96 and EUR 305.36 per MWh respectively.
Additionally this week the Ministry of Economics announced it has put together detailed conditions for support during the heating season to help compensate the rapid increase of prices for energy resources for households.
As autumn draws near the topic of energy resources is not the only one on everyone’s mind in Latvia. There is also the Soviet Victory Monument located in Victory Park. Latvian government and Riga City Council agreed to completely demolish it by 15 November. This week Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis and the city’s executive director Jānis Lange reported the developments related to the demolition of the aforementioned monument. According to what Staķis, it can be surmised that the entire monument ensemble will have been removed entirely by October.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: New electricity price records; State support during heating season; Soviet Victory Monument will soon fall; No way to dodge the draft; Grain leaves Odessa; US greenlights Sweden and Finland’s NATO course.
NEW ELECTRICITY PRICE RECORDS
Electricity price reported record high in all Baltic States in July
Photo: UnsplashIn July 2022 the average electricity price in Latvia’s zone increased to 304.96 EUR/MWh, which remains historically the highest monthly average price for the second consecutive months since the liberalisation of the electricity market, as reported by Augstsprieguma tīkls JSC (AST).
July was the second consecutive month when historically the highest average electricity price was reached in Latvia since the liberalisation of the electricity market – 304.96 EUR/MWh.
In Lithuania the price was EUR 305.36 and in Estonia it was 233.21 EUR/MWh.
According to AST, the average electricity price rise in July was 39.7% when compared to June.
The price increase when compared to July 2021 was 245%.
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STATE AID DURING HEATING SEASON
Latvian ministry develops conditions for receiving aid to compensate energy price rise for households
Photo: UnsplashLatvia’s Ministry of Economics has prepared rules that govern provision of compensation to households intended to reduce the impact from the rapid energy price rise, as confirmed by the ministry.
Additionally, the ministry has prepared rules to provide support to households that use firewood and wood chips for heating. The support mechanism for users of natural gas is also improved.
It is planned for the Cabinet of Ministers to view proposed regulations on 9 August and for the Saeima – on 11 August.
On 21 June Latvia’s Cabinet of Minister decided to develop measures to compensate the rising costs of energy resources (electricity, natural gas, heating energy and wood pellets) for households. Due to the rapid price rise for firewood and wood briquettes, the Ministry of Economics included in the new regulations support for households that use these fuels for heating.
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SOVIET MONUMENT WILL SOON FALL
Removal of monument glorifying the Soviet Army in Riga will commence soon
Photo: Paula Čurkste/LETAThe total costs of the removal of the Victory Monument and territory improvement project afterwards are estimated at EUR 2 131 899, said Chairman of Riga City Council Mārtiņš Staķis at a press-conference on 4 August.
Staķis also stressed that this amount covers the entire project, not just removal of the monument.
«The project is enormous. This is about 3 ha area and an object that took six years to build. Once it is removed, we plan to green the area,» said the mayor.
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NO WAY TO DODGE THE DRAFT
Latvians trying to dodge mandatory military service may receive three-year prison sentence
Photo: Edijs Pālens/LETARecruits entering State Defence Service (VAD) will be evaluated by general practitioners. Troops will have access to «additional bonuses». However, attempts to dodge the draft may be punished with up to a three-year prison sentence, according to VAD reform prepared by Latvian Ministry of Defence.
The ministry has submitted the report to the Ministry of Finances, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Welfare, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health. According to this report, in five years it is planned to adopt a comprehensive conscription system to process all men aged 18 and older and determine their fitness for military service. It is planned to conscript men aged 18 to 27 years in Latvia.
VAD will include three forms of military service – National Armed Forces, National Guard, military training for high school students, and alternative service.
To ensure the registration and conscription of citizens into military service, it is planned to create a new state institution with regional offices under the Ministry of Defence, but until the institution is able to commence operations it will answer to National Armed Forces.
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GRAIN LEAVES ODESSA
First Ukraine grain ship leaves Odesa port since start of war
Foto: Ieva Luka/LETAUkrainian and Turkish officials report that a ship carrying grain left the Ukrainian port of Odessa for Lebanon on Monday, 1 August, under a safe passage agreement, Reuters reports.
This is the first departure since the Russian invasion blocked shipping through the Black Sea five months ago. Ukraine’s foreign minister named this day it a relief for the world, especially for countries threatened by food shortages and hunger because of the interrupted shipments.
It was possible after Turkey and the United Nations negotiated a grain-and-fertiliser export agreement between Russia and Ukraine last month.The deal aims to allow safe passage for grain shipments in and out of Odesa, Chornomorsk and the port of Pivdennyi.
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US GREENLIGHTS FINLAND’S AND SWEDEN’S NATO COURSE
The U.S. Senate approved Sweden’s and Finland’s accession into NATO
Photo: FlickrUS Senate on Wednesday, August 3rd, approved NATO Membership for Sweden, Finland by a vote of 95-1. Thus sending a strong message of support for expanding the Western alliance against Russia, reports broadcaster Voice of America (VOA).
The United States is one of 30 NATO member countries that will have to approve Sweden’s and Finland’s admission.
The usually lengthy process for admission has been fast-tracked in the U.S. Senate as part of a robust response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
Prior to the vote, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez said the Senate vote would send a powerful condemn to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
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BNN summary of the week: Electricity prices in Baltics. State support this autumn. Demolition in Victory Park
