With two weeks left until the Baltic countries are due to disconnect from the Russian electricity system and connect to Western European grids, the three countries are fully prepared for the landmark event, their ministers have assured.
Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian ministers in charge of energy vow to work together to increase the flexibility of the electricity system and to protect the infrastructure once the countries are finally connected to the European grids on February 9.
According to Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas, the synchronisation will make the Baltic countries stronger because they will be connected to their European partners and “energy will no longer be used as a weapon”.
“Our systems will operate at the same frequency as those of reliable partners. We will also have frequency rating systems, and our transmission grid operators will coordinate every step. This will increase the security of our systems,” he told reporters on January 24 after a meeting of the ministers of the three Baltic countries and Poland in Riga.
“We are prepared for all scenarios. Our public can be calm, everything is under control,” the minister added.
Estonian Climate Minister Yoko Alender stressed that consumers would not be affected by synchronisation.
“The synchronisation is planned in a way that people will not notice, their lamps will not even flicker,” Alender said.
According to Kaspars Melnis, Latvia’s Minister for Climate and Energy, the countries are prepared for various scenarios.
“We are completely ready, we are communicating, prepared on all levels,” he said.
According to Alender, synchronisation will have a minimal effect on electricity prices and will not affect the market. She estimates that the monthly bill for the average consumer could increase by around 1 euro.
Vaiciunas explained that the price would edge up due to system balancing costs.
According to him, synchronous compensators installed in all three countries will help stabilise the cost of synchronisation by ensuring the inertia of the electricity system and maintaining the frequency needed for system stability. (LRT)