Baltic States to disconnect from joint energy system with Russia and Belarus in 2025

On 8 February 2025, the Baltic countries will separate their energy systems from a shared system with Russia and Belarus, and on 9 February, they will link themselves to the European power grid.

Source: Russian Interfax

Quote: "The desynchronisation process, which lasted about 20 years, will be completed after the operators of the electric power systems of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announce to Russia and Belarus that they will no longer continue to work in a joint synchronous space from the new annual period beginning on 8 February," Jaanus Uiga, Estonian Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, told reporters. 

On 9 February, the Baltic republics will join the continental European electricity grid via the Lithuanian-Polish connection. The entire project costs €1.6 billion. The EU money covers three-quarters of the costs.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are the remaining EU countries that have yet to join the continental European network.

Currently, all three Baltic nations are part of the BRELL (Belarus – Russia – Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania electric system), whose frequency is monitored by the Russian system operator.

The Baltic countries are planned to officially withdraw from the BRELL in August 2024, with synchronisation with the continental European energy grid taking place in February 2025. Previously, synchronisation was scheduled until the end of 2025.

Background: 

• Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, endorsed Ukraine's position on the necessity for an ENTSO-E decision to boost the throughput of interstate crossings for power imports to Ukraine from European countries.
• Because of the synchronisation of the Ukrainian power system with continental Europe's ENTSO-E power system, Ukraine was able to receive 27,000 MWh of emergency assistance and attract 285,000 MWh of imports to maintain power during the winter.

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