OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 June 2009 was announced, that for two weeks after emergency shutdown and commenced repairs at Ignalina nuclear power plant, which is currently not generating any power, Lithuania is importing the bulk electricity – 34 million kilowatt hours (kWh) - from Latvia.

The largest Latvian generator of electricity Latvenergo has lately launched a new gas turbine. At present Latvia could supply up to 67.2 million kWh a week if there was the demand”, - says Mr. Darius Masionis, Chief Executive Officer, Lietuvos Energija AB. According to him, this week Lithuania is importing 16.3 million kilowatt hours from Scandinavian Nord Pool market, 1 million - from Estonia. Estonian electricity generators have begun repairs on their own power plants, since, according to the schedule, the nuclear power plant should have been shut only in September, said D. Masionis.

To cater for the national power demand about 40 million kWh are generated by Lietuvos Elektrine power plant, roughly another 10 million kWh – by power plants of Vilnius and Kaunas as well as renewable power sources. 

The imports From Russia are largely performed during the night. The imported electricity is used for filling the upper pool of Kruonis pumped storage plant (PSP) and during the day – to cover the peak demand. During the night Kruonis NPP operates two or three units out of four, pumping the water up, and during the day – letting the water down into the lower pool. One or two units (according to the demand) generate electricity. The Russian imports account for up to 32.9 million kWh of electricity.

Unit 2 of the nuclear power plant, generating about 70 per cent of domestic demand, was shut down on June 6, at 9 AM 18 following the actuation of the automatic reactor protection system. Lietuvos Energija, in charge of the power system‘s reliability, reacted to this incident by activating electricity reserve capacities in Lithuania and neighboring power systems. Thanks to the rapid work of professionals, there was no interruption of electricity supply. Due to the fault of the nuclear power plant’s reactor, the major repairs were started three months ahead of schedule. The repairs are to be completed by July 5.