Three major Latvian wood pellet producers have signed a memorandum pledging to prioritise local market supply following summer shortages and sharp price increases. Minister for climate and energy Jānis Vitenbergs, who initiated the memorandum, called on other producers sharing the initiative's objectives to join. These are the first producers to demonstrate their commitment to the local market and Latvia's energy security,' he said. Latvia ranks among the European Union's largest wood pellet producers. Approximately 40,000 households - around 5 per cent of the population - use wood pellets for heating, consuming roughly 200,000 tonnes annually.