Lithuania cuts cross-border power transmission capacity to 262 MW on Sep 15 in order to eliminate power interchange from Belarus

<p> MINSK, Sep 15 - PrimePress. Lithuania on 15 Sep 2021 reduced the capacity of cross-border power transmission lines in the Lithuanian-Belarusian direction to 262 MW in order to rule out electricity interchange from Belarus, according to a report by Lithuania’s electricity transmission system operator Litgrid. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The change in the technical capacity of power transmission lines ensures that Lithuanian transmission lines will not be used to trade electricity generated in Belarus, and above all the energy generated by the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast), said Litgrid. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “On Wednesday (15 September – editor’s note), the first day of application of the new methodology, the maximum transmission capacity of electricity interchange from Belarus to Lithuania was limited to 262 megawatts. The new methodology ensures that the electricity needed to ensure the reliability of the energy system can flow into Lithuania. At the same time, the import of electricity generated in Astravyets (at the BelNPP – editor’s note) to Lithuania will be limited. According to the new methodology, throughput will be calculated every day to ensure stable and reliable operation of the electricity system,” said Litgrid CEO Rokas Masiulis. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Earlier, on 13 Sep 2021 the National Energy Regulatory Council (VERT) said that Lithuania had adopted the methodology for trading with third countries, prepared by electricity transmission system operator Litgrid, according to which the net transmission capacity on the Lithuania-Belarus interconnection is reduced to zero megawatts to prevent the import of Belarusian electricity. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In the meantime, the Ministry of Energy of Belarus informed on 14 Sep that Lithuania’s decision to reduce the capacity of cross-border power transmission lines in the Lithuanian-Belarusian direction would not affect the operation of the Belarusian energy system. </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to the Ministry of Energy of Belarus, there are 13 transmission lines connecting the Belarusian and Lithuanian power systems, four of which are elements of the 330 kV backbone network that can technically support significant import and export operations as well as the transit potential of Belarus. The remaining transmission lines serve to supply power to cross-border energy nodes from both the Lithuanian and the Belarusian energy systems. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lithuania terminated electricity trade with Belarus on November 3, 2020, after the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Lithuania has been opposing the Belarusian nuclear power project almost since Minsk made the decision to build the nuke plant. The Lithuanian parliament decided that the power plant poses a threat to national security. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Oblast also referred to as Astravyets) will have two units with a combined capacity of up to 2,400 megawatts. The AES-2006 Russian standard design of (generation 3+) was chosen for its construction. Rosatom’s division Atomstroyexport acts as the general contractor for the NPP construction. The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant RUE is the project customer and the future operator of the NPP. The ceremony of the official launch of the NPP took place in early November 2020. The first power unit of the NPP was put into commercial operation on 10 June 2021, the second power unit – due in H1 2022. End </p>

2021-09-16

Primepress