Keldo seeks to end Russian gas transit through Baltic pipeline

Estonian Energy Minister Erkki Keldo wants to discuss ending Russian gas transit through a pipeline crossing the Baltic states with his Latvian counterpart, telling ERR that he does not consider continued use of the route right. He said he would seek a meeting once Latvia’s new government is in place.

Estonia’s physical valve is closed, Keldo said, so no gas can enter from the Estonian side. The pipeline’s other valve is in Latvia, and any decision would need to be discussed with Latvian and Lithuanian officials. The section running through southeastern Estonia belongs to Elering, and gas from it does not enter Estonia’s network; it is used solely for transit, he said.

Keldo said he did not want to speculate about whether Latvia would agree to close the route before meeting his counterpart. The Latvian state operator runs the pipeline, he said, so the issue requires talks with neighbouring countries and allies. He hopes the two countries can reach an agreement, but said Estonia would have to consider other options if they cannot.

He also said any possibility of sanctions would first need to be discussed with Latvia. Although there have been no gas deliveries for more than two years, Keldo said the aim should be to ensure they do not resume in future.

Eesti Ekspress reported this week that Estonia keeps operational a gas pipeline through Võrumaa that Russia can use to supply Kaliningrad, the Russian region between Lithuania and Poland. The newspaper said politicians who had overseen the relevant policy in Estonia in recent years were unaware of the pipeline issue. Russia needs gas for power plants in Kaliningrad, Keldo said, as the region became an energy island after the Baltic states left the shared electricity system with Russia.