At a meeting of 21 May 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers examined the informative report prepared by the Ministry of Economics regarding the synchronisation of electricity networks of the Baltic States with the electricity networks of Continental Europe, confirming progress towards the synchronisation of Latvian electricity networks with the European electricity system in 2025.
The Cabinet of Ministers also supported that AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls” signs an agreement for connecting the electricity systems of the Baltic States to the electricity system of Continental Europe and, following the fulfilment of the requirements of this agreement, the Regional Group Continental Europe Synchronous Area agreement.
The synchronisation of electricity systems of the Baltic States with European systems will increase energy security of the Baltic States, strengthen participation in the European Union (EU) energy market, and reduce energy dependency on neighbouring countries, Russia and Belarus.
From the point of view of both market development and EU energy security priorities, the closer integration of the Baltic States into the EU’s energy systems is a logical future step. In recent years, electricity and other energy supplies from EU countries have played an increasingly important role in the energy supply of the Baltic States, and in addition, the cooperation of EU countries in energy security and solidarity policies is developing significantly.
The preparations of the Baltic States for integration of their energy systems into the EU national energy system have been ongoing for several years, with stakeholders carrying out studies on the expected operation modes of the electricity transmission system and associated costs, as well as on the most economically and technically feasible solutions for the integration of the energy systems.
As it was previously reported, the Baltic States have taken a political decision to withdraw from the so-called BRELL energy circle, which connects Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with Belarus and Russia. Historically, the energy systems of Latvia and other Baltic States have been designed as part of the former USSR unified energy system, so even after the restoration of independence in 1991, the Baltic States maintained the historical electricity transmission infrastructure and still continue cooperation in synchronous mode with Russia and Belarus.