The Lithuanian government has said that the recent failure of the Estlink 2 undersea cable does not affect the planned synchronization of the Baltic states’ electricity grid with Western Europe.
Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas said in a Lithuanian radio interview aired on Thursday that potential damage to other power lines in the Baltic Sea region would not jeopardize the planned disconnection from the Russian power grid and the integration into Western Europe’s energy network, scheduled for February.
However, he noted that the disruptions could have “indirect effects” as they would challenge the reserve capacities.
Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia aim to synchronize their power grids with the rest of mainland Europe in February.
In response to Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the three EU and NATO countries have ceased their electricity imports from Russia.
However, they remain part of a common synchronized power grid with Russia and Belarus for historical reasons – the so-called BRELL ring system, which dates back to Soviet times.
This connection effectively ties the Baltic states to the grids of their eastern neighbours, which is viewed as a security risk in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius.
The Estlink 2, a major power connection between Estonia and Finland, was disrupted on Christmas Day.
Damage was found on several communication cables. Finnish authorities have indicated sabotage as a likely cause and detained the Cook Islands-flagged oil tanker Eagle S for inspection.
Investigators suspect that the crew of the Eagle S deliberately caused the damage by dragging the ship’s anchor along the seabed. During the investigation, a kilometre-long drag mark was discovered on the seabed. Underwater images also showed damage to the ship’s hull, which police said was caused by the anchor chain.
The EU suspects the ship to be part of the Russian “shadow fleet,” tankers and other cargo ships that Russia uses to evade sanctions imposed due to its invasion of Ukraine, especially in oil transportation.
Finland’s criminal police have been investigating on board the Eagle S for some time. On Thursday the Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, planned to initiate a detailed inspection on the ship as well.
During what is known as port state control (PSC), compliance with international regulations and standards, such as those for safety and working conditions, is checked.
This is reportedly a routine procedure that may take several days, according to Traficom. It added that following this, the results of the inspection will be made public. If necessary, the ship could be held until any deficiencies have been rectified.
Repairs to the 170-kilometre connection could take several months, according to initial estimates from network operators.
Lithuania and other Baltic countries have heightened vigilance and declared a state of alert due to possible acts of sabotage, after problems with several Baltic Sea communication cables in recent months, along with disruptions to power cables and gas pipelines.
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Publish date : 2025-01-02 08:32:00
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