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Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia disconnect from energy system shared with Russia, Belarus
The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on Saturday successfully disconnected from a shared energy system with Russia and Belarus.
The BRELL (Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) system was created after the dissolution of the Soviet Union to ensure a stable electricity supply to its former parts.
As sovereign states, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia started implementing a pro-European course, gradually distancing from Russia and Belarus, and abandoning all uniting projects, including the energy system. This trend strengthened after the deterioration of ties between Russia and the West.
In 2018, the three Baltic countries signed an agreement with the European Commission to synchronize their power grids with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).
The reorientation for the European power grids will take place in two stages. On Saturday, the Baltic countries are set to disconnect from Russia and Belarus, and operate in isolation for 24 hours. If no issues arise, they will then be integrated into the European network on Sunday.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the Baltic countries had chosen this path themselves, adding that the technical difficulties and possible economic consequences of this step had yet to be assessed.
Some experts point to a possible increase in energy costs for Baltic consumers, with Russia, as a country rich in energy resources, capable of offering lower tariffs.
The Baltic states’ disconnection endangered the energy supply of Russia’s enclave Kaliningrad region, which was supplied with electricity through power grids common with Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. However, the authorities managed to build in short terms several energy-generating facilities.
Meanwhile, the Belarusian authorities have said this step will have no impact on the reliable supply of heat and electricity to consumers inside the country, and is purely political in nature.
AA