OREANDA-NEWS  On 17 February was announced, that Lietuvos Energija AB, AS ”Augstsprieguma Tikls“ (Latvia) and ”Pohivork“ OU (Estonia), seeking to join UCTE (Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity) – West European Power Systems – agreed to finance in equal shares the feasibility study for the synchronous operation of Baltic Power System and UCTE. This agreement is one of the prerequisites of UCTE in making a decision for the scope of study and defining its performance terms as well as budget. The study is to be launched in June, 2009.

The Baltic TSOs for this project have already secured an EU support of EUR 750,” – says Chairman of the Board and General Director of Lietuvos Energija AB. According to him, this feasibility study is not only in the interests of the Baltic States alone – its performance will also involve TSOs from Poland, Russia and Germany. 

According to the pre-feasibility study results, published in May 2008, the implementation investments for the necessary infrastructure projects would total around EUR 2.5 billion. The pre-feasibility study has assessed various technical, economical, financial and organizational conditions, analyzed today’s situation, modeled possible scenarios of system’s interconnection for synchronous operation, defines the most important means and prepares primary conclusions. The preliminary date for the first stage of the interconnection of the systems – 2015.

In order to interconnect with the West European power system, it is necessary to have a power link with at least one UCTE member and meet the requirements for synchronous operation with UCTE. The interconnection with UCTE is a part of Lithuanian National Energy strategy.