“Russia will no longer be able to use energy as a blackmail tool.” Baltic countries are forever disconnected from Russian energy networks

High -voltage electricity transmission stations in the photo next to the AST frequency balance point (Augstspriegumu Tikls) in the coffin near the border with Lithuania, January 9, 2025

Gints IVUSKANS / AFP / Scanpix

Today, the Baltic countries are completing their participation in the system of synchronization of energy networks with Belarus and Russia. The phased shutdown is scheduled for early morning: first, the electric lines will be turned off in the direction of Lithuania-Kaliningrad, then Lithuania-Belarus, Latvia-Russia and, finally, Estonia-Russia. The mains of the three countries will begin to work in isolation, in the state of the "energy island" - this is necessary to check the stability of the system for failures. If everything goes according to plan, on Sunday, February 9, at 14:00 there will be an official connection of the Baltic countries to the United Energy System of Europe. This is a very important, long -expected and carefully prepared event for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And in the future - not only for them.

Oddly enough, but until February 7, 2025, inclusive, three Baltic countries, since 1991, who left the USSR and did not join the Union of independent states (CIS), were united with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus into a single electric ring of Bral. It was created as a result of signing a joint agreement on February 7, 2001 and involves the synchronous operating mode of the energy systems of the participating countries, electricity exchange and each other's support in case of emergency situations.

Of course, this union, in which Russia plays a leading role, was forced to import countries, which import at least 40% of the electricity consumed, and the USSR heritage common to Russia and Belarus. Nevertheless, simple common sense suggests that you should not depend on a strong and unfriendly neighbor in such a sensitive area as energy. But the path to solving the problem of energy security of the Baltic countries took a lot of time.

Long road to independence

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