Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: Latvia
| Location: | Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania |
| Climate: | maritime; wet, moderate winters |
| Terrain: | low plain |
| Size: | 64589 sq. km total (Land area: 63589 sq. km Water area: 1000 sq.km) |
| Population: | 2,245,423 (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census) |
| Government: | parliamentary democracy |
| Capital city: | Riga |
| Legal system: | based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Currency: | lat (LVL) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
Alone among the former Soviet republics, the Baltic Sea region states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were quick to adopt market economies and to implement democratic reforms. As a result, they largely have avoided the economic and political crises that have beset other regions in transition from centrally planned economies, including the Balkan region and southeastern Europe. Privatization in the Baltics is nearly complete, and in 2005, despite the continuing slowdown in the global economy, the three countries posted an average 9.2 percent increase in their real gross domestic product (GDP).
With a combined population of only 7.2 million people, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have achieved greater presence in the international community by joining forces in a number of political and economic arenas. In 2004, after years of preparations, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as the European Union (EU). Originally planned for 2007, adoption of the common European currency has been delayed until 2009, as all three Baltic states’ average inflation levels remain above the Maastricht inflation criterion.
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | ||
| Consumption: | 34,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 1 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | 6,765 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
| Imports: | 39,190 bbl/day (2004 est.) | 1 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Reserves: | ||
| Major fields: |
Latvia - recent news
| 26 Sep 24 |
Latvia: Nordex Group receives first order in Latvia The Nordex Group has had a business presence in the Baltic states of Estonia and Lithuania for many years already, and now the company will also branch out for the first time in Latvia. Sia Laflora Energy, a subsidiary of peat extraction and processing company Laflora, has placed an order for the supply and installation of 16 N175/6.X turbines. |
| 10 Sep 24 |
Latvia: Ignitis Renewables to develop a 174 MW solar farm in Latvia Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, is expanding its operations in Latvia. The investment decision foresees an investment up to EUR 106 million in the development of the 174 megawatt (MW) Tume solar farm, which will be one of the largest of its kind in the Baltics. |
| 23 Nov 23 |
Latvia: Enefit Green takes final investment decision regarding two solar farms in Latvia Enefit Green, one of the leading diversified renewable energy producers in the Baltic Sea area, has taken the final investment decision to start the construction of 11 MW Carnikava Dzerves and 6MW Carnikava Austrumi solar farms in Latvia. |
| 06 Sep 22 |
Latvian energy TSO selects PLEXOS for transmission and energy security planning Latvian energy transmission system operator AS Augstsprieguma tikls (AST – ‘High voltage grid’) has announced a three-year agreement with Energy Exemplar to use PLEXOS simulation modelling software to manage changing energy priorities. |
| 25 Feb 20 |
Latvia: HEA appointed advisor for Odin Energi's Latvian Licence farmdown Holt Energy Advisors ('HEA') have been appointed by Odin Energi as farmdown advisor for their 2018-1 Licence in the Baltic Basin in Latvia. Odin Energi is seeking to bring in one or more partners to fund and deliver the forward work plan including a 2021 exploration well. |
Latvia - more news
Other countries in this region
- Afghanistan,
- Albania,
- Armenia,
- Austria,
- Azerbaijan,
- Belarus,
- Belgium,
- Bosnia and Herzegovina,
- Bulgaria,
- Croatia,
- Cyprus,
- Czech Republic,
- Denmark,
- Estonia,
- Faroe Islands,
- Finland,
- France,
- Georgia,
- Germany,
- Greece,
- Greenland,
- Hungary,
- Iceland,
- Ireland,
- Italy,
- Kazakhstan,
- Kyrgyzstan,
- Lithuania,
- Luxembourg,
- Malta,
- Moldova,
- Montenegro,
- Netherlands,
- Norway,
- Poland,
- Portugal,
- Romania,
- Russia,
- Serbia,
- Slovakia,
- Slovenia,
- Spain,
- Sweden,
- Switzerland,
- Tajikistan,
- Tatarstan,
- Turkey,
- Turkmenistan,
- Ukraine,
- United Kingdom,
- Uzbekistan
