From 2025, the Baltic Сountries Will Disconnect Their Energy Systems From Russia

The electricity transmission operators of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have agreed on a joint plan to disengage from the unified energy system with Russia.

This announcement was made by the Lithuanian Ministry of Energy.

Litgrid, AST and Elering have signed an agreement for synchronization, which outlines the disconnection from the Russia-controlled system and the synchronous connection to the European network in February 2025.

The agreement also stipulates that in the summer of 2024, half a year before synchronization, the Baltic countries will collectively withdraw from the BRELL agreement, previously established with Russian and Belarusian operators, which allowed their energy systems to operate in parallel.

The installation of the initial synchronous capacitors, control systems, and the reconstruction of the third line between Estonia and Latvia will be completed by the summer of the following year.

Vladimir Kudritsky, the head of the Ukrainian company "Ukrenergo", welcomed the decision of the Baltic operators.

"For decades, Russia has spread fears among its neighbors that a dangerous life lurks behind the fortress walls of its controlled energy system, suggesting survival is impossible without it. Ukraine disproved this notion last year," he noted.

A few months ago, the Lithuanian electricity transmission operator, Litgrid, successfully tested the country's power system in an autonomous mode. Consumers received electricity from national power plants as well as from Poland and Sweden. However, the balance and frequency of the system were maintained solely by Litgrid's dispatchers. This testing was part of the preparation for synchronizing Lithuania's energy system with the broader European network.

This year, the electricity transmission operators of the Baltic countries and the Gdansk branch of the Polish Energy Institute conducted a study on the possibility of synchronization before the previously set deadline of the end of 2025.

The study results indicate that by the beginning of 2025, the electricity transmission systems of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will be ready for a safe disconnection from the Russia-controlled system and synchronization with continental Europe.

It's noteworthy that Ukraine disconnected its energy system from Russia on February 24, 2022.

To mitigate all risks, Ukraine prepared well in advance: over 1 million tons of coal were stockpiled at thermal power plants and ports, and a maintenance campaign for nuclear power plants was strategically planned to ensure 13 nuclear reactor units operated simultaneously during this period.

The transition to an isolated mode occurred before the onset of Russia's military invasion and was initially an experiment. However, due to the war, Ukraine joined the ENTSO-E energy system just three weeks later. This step later enabled energy trading with the European Union.