Saeima supports legislative amendments to end electricity trade with Russia and Belarus

RIGA - The Saeima today in the final reading supported amendments to the Electricity Market Law to discontinue trade in electricity with Russia and Belarus.

The amendments provide for enforcing the ban to supply electricity, using Russian and Belarusian power transmission systems for trade. The bill has been prepared in line with the international sanctions.

Representatives of the Climate and Energy Ministry said earlier that, in fact, trade in electricity with Russia and Belarus has been not been conducted already based on the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of October 11, 2022.

The Economics Ministry indicated earlier that when it comes to electricity trade, it is necessary to distinguish between electricity trade flows and the physical flow of electricity, or electric current. Exchange of balancing capacity is not part of electricity trade - it is the physical flow necessary to balance and stabilize the power transmission system. 

In order to ensure security of energy supply, balancing and stability in Latvia's transmission system until synchronization with the continental Europe, the operator will have to make sure that the balancing energy amount received from Russia equals the balancing amount supplied to Russia.

As reported, desynchronization from the BRELL power network, which connects Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with Belarus and Russia, and synchronization with the continental European network will take place until 2025.