Baltic States Cut Russian Electricity Ties, Ending Decades Of Reliance

The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have officially severed their electricity ties with Russia and Belarus, ending decades of reliance on their eastern neighbors.

This move is steeped in geopolitical and symbolic significance, coming nearly three and a half decades after the Baltic countries gained independence from the Soviet Union.

The process of disconnecting from Russia’s grid began years ago, but gained momentum after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Baltic countries have since invested heavily in upgrading their grids and creating new connections with the European Union.

On Saturday, the remaining transmission lines connecting the Baltic countries with Russia and Belarus were switched off, and the next day, the Baltic power system merged with the Continental European and Nordic grids.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and other dignitaries attended short for a ceremony on Sunday as a specially-made 9-meter tall clock in downtown Vilnius counts down the final seconds of the Baltic states’ electricity ties to Russia.

This marks a significant shift towards energy independence for the region.

“This is physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our reliance on the Russian and Belorussian energy system,” said Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda.

While the Baltic nations are celebrating this milestone, they remain vigilant, anticipating potential responses from Russia.

The three Baltic countries, which together have a 1,633-kilometre-long border with Russia and Belarus, officially informed Moscow and Minsk of the disconnection plan in July.

Despite the advance notice, the Baltic nations are still on watch for a possible response from their former Soviet partners.

Some in the region were taking precautionary measures.

Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR has reported surging sales of generators.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com