Vitenbergs warns of stricter steps if pellet prices and availability do not improve

As the heating season approaches, pellet prices and availability remain a pressing issue in Latvia. Climate and Energy Minister Jānis Vitenbergs has stated that if the situation does not improve, the government could decide on stricter market regulation.

The minister identified two main problems: pellets are not always available when needed, and prices remain too high. To ease the shortage, the ministry has drafted a voluntary agreement – producers who join will commit to supplying the local market first and only then export. Vitenbergs promised to publicly support companies that prioritize Latvian residents.

The ministry has also turned to the Competition Council to investigate suspiciously similar pellet prices among various traders, checking for possible collusion. Another issue is scammers exploiting high demand – the Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) has reported online offers of pellets at very low prices, asking for advance payment but never delivering.

To increase raw material availability, the ministry met with the state-owned company Latvijas valsts meži, which confirmed additional auctions of wood chips and industrial wood. According to a PTAC survey, major retailers have virtually no pellet stock – supplies sell out immediately upon arrival. About one-fifth of retailers have introduced purchase limits, restricting a single buyer to one ton. PTAC views this positively and urges residents to be cautious when buying pellets online: check the seller's reputation, avoid suspiciously low prices, and pay only upon delivery.