Baltic energy systems ready for decoupling from Russia, connecting to Europe - ministers

  • 2025-01-24
  • LETA/BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS - With two weeks left before the Baltic countries are due to disconnect from the Russian electricity system and connect to Western European grids, the three countries are fully prepared for the landmark event, which will not affect consumers, the Baltic countries’ ministers have assured.

Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian ministers in charge of energy vow to work together to increase flexibility of the electricity system and to protect the infrastructure once the countries are finally connected to the European grids on February 9.

According to Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas, the synchronization will make the Baltic countries stronger because they will be connected to their European partners and "energy will no longer be used as a weapon".

"Our systems will operate at the same frequency as those of reliable partners. We will also have frequency rating systems and our transmission grid operators will coordinate every step. This will increase the security of our systems," Vaiciunas told reporters on Friday after a meeting of the ministers of the three Baltic countries and Poland in Riga.

"We are prepared for all scenarios. Our public can be calm, everything is under control," he stressed.

Estonian Climate Minister Yoko Alender stressed that consumers will not be affected by synchronization.

"The synchronization is planned in a way that people will not notice, (...) their lamps will not [even] flicker," Alender said.

Kaspars Melnis, Latvia's Minister for Climate and Energy, also assured that the countries are prepared for various scenarios: "We are completely ready, we are communicating (...), prepared on all levels."

According to Alender, synchronization will have a minimal effect on electricity prices and will not affect the market. She estimates that the monthly bill for the average consumer could increase by around 1 euro.

For his part, Vaiciunas explained that the price would edge up due to system balancing costs.

According to him, synchronous compensators installed in all three countries will help stabilize the cost of synchronization by ensuring the inertia of the electricity system and maintaining the frequency needed for system stability.

The Baltic power grids are set to start operating synchronously with the Continental European system on February 9.

The day before, on February 8, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will decouple from the Russian IPS/UPS system and conduct a single joint isolated operation test, after which they will not return to the old system.