About 3 1/2 decades after leaving the Soviet Union, this week’s end of this week will flip a switch to Estonia, Latvia and Baltic countries of Lithuania to eliminate power-grid connections for neighboring Russia and Belarus and of its European Union Will turn to colleagues.
Oil- and Gas -Rich Russia separating electricity relations is immersed in geopolitical and symbolic importance. After Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Ukraine to attack Ukraine three years ago, he acted after Moscow’s European Union relations, followed by the European Union’s relations.
“This is a physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our dependence on the Russian and Belarusi energy system,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda recently told Associated Press.
Ursula, head of the European Union, is required at a ceremony on Sunday, from Leyen and other dignitaries, as a distinctive-made 9-meter long watch in the downtown Villnius is counted in the last second of the electric tie of the Baltic states for Russia.
Chili relations since the collapse of the Soviet Union
The Baltic country, which is all members of NATO, formed relations with Russia with Russia in 1990 with freedom beating Russia and carried forward the relationship over Ukraine’s full -scale invasion of Russia in 2022.
Sixteen electric lines were demolished for years to connect three Baltic states with Russia and Belarus as a new grid combined them with the rest of the European Union, including a underwater cable in the Baltic Sea.
On Saturday, and all the remaining transmission lines between Russia, Belarus and Kalinigrad of Russia – members of the European Union will be switched to switched between Poland and Lithuania and the sea – one -one – one -one to one.
Then, for 24 hours, the Baltic Power System wants to operate a single in a “island operation mode”. The next day, the power system is ready to merge with the continental European and Nordic grid through several links with Finland, Sweden and Poland.
The Kaliningrad region, which has no land relations for Russia, already depends on its power generation, according to Lithuania’s power transmission system operator Litgrid.
Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov said that the disconnection scheme was announced in advance by Baltic countries and the Russian energy sector took initial steps to ensure smooth operation in its favor.
Peskov told reporters, “Those plans were declared long ago, and they needed some tasks by us and his electric companies.” “We have taken all the necessary measures to ensure the reliable and uninterrupted operation of our integrated energy system.”
Risk of harassment?
Three Baltic countries, which share a 1.633-km long border with Russia and Belarus together, informed the Minsk of Moscow and disconnection scheme in July. His national transmission system operators credited a 1.2 billion euro or $ 1.25 billion in the European Union and other support to help countries synchronize with the Continental Europe Synchronous region.
“Lithuania has done a lot in the last 30 years, which is to disconnect to be independent,” Nauosada said. Three years ago, “We stopped buying any energy resources from Russia. This was our reaction to war in Ukraine.”
Despite advance information, the Baltic nation is still looking for a possible response from its formors Soviet partners.
Litgrid said last week, “The risk of cyber attack remains sufficient,” last week said that continuous vigilance, cooperation, defensive steps and “strong” cyber security measures were essential to reduce potential threats effectively.
Latvian Prime Minister Equika Silia on Wednesday warned of potential provocation, but said Latvia was well prepared and services including armed forces and national guards were carrying forward their vigilance and security measures.
“There are clear risk, which.
After the announcement of dissection plans, the promotional campaign warned about blackouts, severe energy shortage and sky-high energy bill for consumers.
Jolanta Karavitin, a retired teacher at Central Villanius, said, “We heard those rumors, but we are already used for such things.” “Of course, we should disconnect them.
Nevertheless, there were some precautionary measures in the region.
Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR has reported an increase in generator sales. The home tool chain Baohoff sold dozens of more generators last month than January a year ago, and rival Ehitus ABC had to limit its shopping.
A long road towards energy freedom
Energy has been decades to create steps of Baltic countries towards freedom.
In 2003, before joining the European Union, Lithuania decided to shut down the Soviet-built Ignalina nuclear power plant in response to concerns in Brussels on its safety. It was decrected in 2009.
Lithuania built an offshore oil terminal in the Baltic Sea in 1999. Seven years later, it was the only crude oil in the country, which is a stunning step of Russia for the supply of oil to Lithuania through Russia’s huge draus pipeline network.
Litgrid CEO, Rokas Masiulis said that Lithuania has “faced a great deal” due to Russian works in the past, finding through stopping oil supply and increasing prices for gas that their country has once depended Were.
Hey Lithuania today in terms of electricity capacity “we excessively”, both fossil fuels, but so fast solar and wind. “So we are safe,” said.
Discrimination with Russia “is neither bad for them, (neither) is bad for us,” Masiulis said. “We were interconnected and interdependent to each other. Now we want just to participate in our own way.”
Three Baltic countries have rebuilt power lines and launched their network from Russia and a huge construction and reconstruction program on the west, Litgrid CEO called it a technical achievement.
“Action by Russia – by being aggressive by them and pushing their neighbors – really helped us,” Masilynis said. “Perhaps we have suffered little damage with oil prices with gas prices, but we were forced to work. So we created alternative routes.”
“Now we are in a much better position than before,” Hey said. “So perhaps they wish us sick, but ultimately everything does a great job for us.”
