The logical consequence of the rise in natural gas and oil product prices would be a ban on the export of fuel wood or wood in general from Latvia. The rise in fuel wood prices is nowhere near as sharp as the rise in natural gas prices. According to information published by the gas distribution company “Gaso”, gas prices on the exchange rose from 13.84 euros per megawatt-hour in December 2020 to 81.11 euros per megawatt-hour in December of this year. Arithmetically, this corresponds to an almost sixfold increase. In recent months, gas prices have been fluctuating at roughly the same level. The price in November of this year was 6.5 times higher than in November last year. “Neatkarīgā” is able to compare the price increases of natural gas and fuel wood thanks to information provided by “Rīgas siltums”, which indicates that the price of wood chips has risen by 30-40% compared to the end of last year. Of course, that is also a lot, but it is still far less than six times.
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