News & events

2017-04-28

An agreement reached to replace the NordBalt interconnection onshore joints

After constructive negotiations between Lithuanian and Swedish power cable experts the agreement on the replacement of NordBalt underground cable joints was signed on 27 April 2017. The work of joint replacement is planned for 2018, after the newly-designed joints undergo tests.
 
“The Lithuanian-Swedish submarine power interconnection is to serve for decades, therefore safe operation of technologies throughout the entire lifetime of NordBalt must be ensured. It is very important that the solution to secure the power interconnection’s smooth and reliable operation has been found The replacement of the land cable joints on the Lithuanian side will imply no cost to electricity consumers,” said Lithuanian energy minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas. 
 
The agreement was signed by the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator Litgrid, the Swedish electricity transmission system operator Svenska Kraftnät and the global technology company ABB, which designed, manufactured and installed the cable system, including the joints. The agreement provides for the replacement of 116 underground cable joints. The land cable comprises about 40 km on the Swedish side and 13 km on the Lithuanian side. 
 
“After very intense and complex but constructive negotiations, we have managed to agree on the general project schedule which will allow implementing long-term reliable solutions involving the latest technologies. We have as much trust in ABB, one of the global technology leaders, today, as we had from the very beginning of our cooperation.” said Daivis Virbickas, CEO of Litgrid. 
 
Further details on duration of the outage as well as its start date will be announced on Nord Pool. 
 
The 700 MW power interconnection NordBalt, which was put into operation last year, has become one of the main electricity import sources in Lithuania. In 2016, the wholesale electricity price fell 13 percent in Lithuanian bidding zone on Nord Pool. Electricity imports from Sweden comprised 27 percent of all imported electricity in 2016.