Baltic nations fix deadline for rejection of Russian power grid

The transmission system operators of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have decided that they will disconnect from Russia in February 2025.

Litgrid, AST and Elering, Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian power transmission system operators, have signed an agreement on a synchronization date, RBC-Ukraine reports with reference to the statement of the Lithuanian Energy Ministry.

Under the agreement, disconnection from the Russian-controlled system and connection to the networks of continental Europe will occur in February 2025.

The agreement also provides that the Baltic countries will jointly refuse to renew the BRELL (Electric Ring of Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - ed.) contract concluded with Russian and Belarus operators in the summer of 2024, six months before synchronization.

“Necessary work, such as installation of the first synchronous expansion joints, installation of control systems and reconstruction of the third line between Estonia and Latvia, will be completed by the agreed deadline. The remaining projects of the Baltic operators related to synchronization will be implemented by the end of 2025 or later,” the statement said.

The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries are expected to express their support for the operator agreement in the near future.