On November 5, Latvian-Russian border will be opened for energy imports from Russia to Baltic States,the transmission system’s operator Augstsprieguma tikls (AST) reports.
This decision was made, considering that on November 3, Astravyets NPP became operational in Belarus and Lithuania decided to close the Belarusian-Lithuanian border for imports of energy from third countries to Baltic States, according to the announcement of AST to Nord Pool energy exchange.
AST notes – to ensure relocation of commercial supplies of energy from Belarusian-Lithuanian border to the Latvian-Russian border, on October 29, the Public Utilities Commission (SPRK) supported the output calculation methodic developed by Baltic transmission system’s operators on the rules and conditions on inter-state connection with Russia.
The new power output calculation methodic provides for no longer including Belarusian-Lithuanian inter-connection output in the calculation of import capacity. As a result, the general Baltic imports will reduce by 38%.
As reported by AST, at 11:00 a.m. on November 3, Astravyets NPP’s first energy block was switched on and connected to the network. The reactor was activated at an output of up to 240 MW. The full output of the nuclear power plant’s 1st energy block is 1 200 MW.
Because of Astravyets NPP, Lithuania’s transmission system’s operator ceased energy trade opportunities on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. On November 4, AST started providing output for trade on the Russian-Lithuanian border. According to the rules of the energy exchange, AST will submit to the exchange the acceptable hourly trade output through Russian-Latvian border for supplies to the Baltic market to commence on November 5.
“The goal of the change of the trade model is ensuring uninterrupted trade with Russia, while preventing the sale of Belarusian energy on the Baltic market. To ensure commercial supplies are relocated from the Belarusian-Lithuanian border to the Latvian-Russian borders because Latvia and Belarus do not share energy transmission networks and Latvia’s transmission system’s operator will not cooperate with Belarusian transmission system operator in the exchange of commercial supplies,” said AST board member Gatis Junghans on the border open for energy trade.
“Aside from that, in order to comply with Baltic States’ joint decision to not import energy from Belarus now that Astravyets NPP is operational, AST, in accordance with amendments approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on energy trade and usage, has requested and has received affirmation from Russia’s transmission system’s operator and Russia’s appointed import/export monopoly company that the energy to be used for cross-border trade between Russia and Latvia must be produced in Russia,” explains Junghans. (BNN/Business World Magazine)