News & events

2015-12-12

Interconnections LitPol Link and NordBalt to be symbolically activated by the Baltic Sea region leaders

On 14 December the new era with Lithuania on the European energy map will start when the heads of Lithuania and neighbouring countries symbolically activate the interconnections LitPol Link and NordBalt. 
 
The official ceremony held in the Grand Dukes’ Palace will be attended by H.E. President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevičius, the Minister of Energy Rokas Masiulis, the European Commissioner Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, the Prime Ministers of Latvia and Estonia, the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, the Minister of Energy of Sweden and the CEOs of Lithuanian, Polish and Swedish electricity transmission system operators. 
 
The integration of new interconnections into Lithuanian power system will be also commemorated by the representatives of the European Union (EU), Lithuanian authorities, European and US diplomatic missions that contributed to the implementation of the projects of the European importance. 
 
“The new interconnections will increase the reliability of electricity supply and the energy security in the region. Moreover, they will bring tangible economic benefits to all consumers. But that’s not all. Today we can once again can say to ourselves and to the world: we are small but strong country. It is no secret the construction of both links was challenging, the success of the projects were greeted with scepticism. But while some questioned this we and our partners have been working. We proved we are able to decide the fate for ourselves”, - the Minister of Energy R. Masiulis said.   
 
The 500 MW interconnection LitPol Link connects the Lithuanian and Polish power systems for the first time and ensures the flow of electricity from the West to the Baltic countries, and vice versa. Lithuanian and Polish transmission system operators Litgrid and PSE started to implement the project in 2008.
 
The NordBalt cable between Lithuania and Sweden is one of the longest sea cables in the world. The project is jointly implemented by Lithuanian and Swedish electricity transmission system operators Litgrid and Svenska Kraftnät.
 
Both interconnections are part of the Baltic Sea Region Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). After the adequate energy infrastructure is installed in the Baltic Sea region the next step would be the Baltic countries’ synchronization with the continental European grid. 
 
Media willing to attend the event and a press conference are kindly requested to contact [email protected] or +370626 15831. Upon registration your name and media organization must be provided.
 
The ceremony of the symbolic commissioning of LitPol Link and NordBalt will take place in the Grand Hall of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Katedros a. 4, Vilnius. The event starts at 2 pm. 
 
The press conference of the Lithuanian Prime Minister A. Butkevičius will be held at 3.10 pm. It will be also attended by the Minister of Energy R. Masiulis, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy Dominique Ristori, the CEO of PSE Henryk Majchrzak, the CEO of Svenska Kraftnät Mikael Odenberg and the CEO of Litgrid Daivis Virbickas.