# Exclusive: Europe ready for Baltics emergency switch-off from Russian grid Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-06-30 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: European Grid Operators Prepared for Baltic Energy Crisis | Meta Description: Discover how European grid operators are prepared to bring the Baltic states into the EU system to safeguard energy supply in case of a Russian grid cut-off. URL: https://financedigest.com/exclusive-europe-ready-for-baltics-emergency-switch-off-from-russian-gridhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-06-30t164421z2lynxmpei5t0unrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-baltic-power-1736815606705-compressed.jpg) By Andrius Sytas and Marek Strzelecki VILNIUS/WARSAW (Reuters) – European grid operators are ready to implement immediately a long-term plan to bring the Baltic states, which rely on the Russian grid, into the European Union system in the event Moscow cuts them off, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Concern about depending on Russia for any form of energy has mounted across Europe because of reductions in Russian gas supplies to some countries following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The Baltic states are nervous because Lithuania has clashed with Russia for blocking goods to Moscow’s Kaliningrad enclave. Thirty years after splitting from the [former](https://www.financedigest.com/death-of-former-pope-benedict-overshadows-new-year-at-vatican.html "Death of former Pope Benedict overshadows New Year at Vatican") Soviet Union and 17 years since joining the European Union, the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania depend on Russia to ensure stable power supplies. The Baltic States have a long-standing plan to become part of the European decentralised network of [power grids](https://www.financedigest.com/first-winter-cold-snap-tests-french-power-grid.html "First winter cold snap tests French power grid"), known as ENTSO-E, by 2025. The sources said that could be implemented immediately if necessary, under [contingency plans](https://www.financedigest.com/private-equity-firms-hungry-for-investment-opportunities-but-business-owners-must-be-cautious.html "Half of Security Professionals Had No Contingency Plan in Place for COVID-19") drawn up by ENTSO-E for such an eventuality. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The [Russian and Continental European systems both operate](https://www.financedigest.com/coca-cola-hbc-flags-one-time-195-million-hit-from-russian-operations.html "Coca-Cola HBC flags one-time 5 million hit from Russian operations") at a frequency of 50 Hertz, but whereas the Russian system is run from Moscow, the continental European grids are decentralised, meaning each national grid operator is responsible for maintaining the stability of its system. However, in an emergency, those in the European system can provide help. Already in March, the EU and Ukraine linked their grids – 2-1/5 years earlier than planned – enabling Ukraine to receive emergency [power from Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-edison-ansaldo-team-up-to-develop-nuclear-power-in-europe.html "EDF, Edison, Ansaldo team up to develop nuclear power in Europe") if military attacks caused outages. Ideally, the Baltic States would only disconnect from the Russian grid in 2025, following the completion of investment backed by 1.6 [billion euros](https://www.financedigest.com/europes-spend-on-energy-crisis-nears-800-billion-euros.html "Europe’s spend on energy crisis nears 800 billion euros") ($1.68 billion) of EU funding to upgrade their infrastructure. The sources said, however, the Baltic States would already be [able to cope](https://www.financedigest.com/emerging-risks-is-our-insurance-system-able-to-cope.html "Emerging risks: is our Insurance system able to cope?") if they have to. The grids would operate in a stable manner but the lack of the infrastructure upgrades could mean [higher power prices](https://www.financedigest.com/vhs-tapes-selling-for-46000-higher-than-original-price.html "VHS tapes selling for 46,000% higher than original price"), one of them said. TRIAL RUN Lithuania last year installed and successfully [tested equipment to link up the Baltic power](https://www.financedigest.com/france-strains-to-avert-power-cuts-as-cold-snap-tests-europes-energy-resolve.html "France strains to avert power cuts as cold snap tests Europe’s energy resolve") grid with Poland, an ENTSO-E member. ENTSO-E was not available to comment on Thursday, and the Polish [power grid declined](https://www.financedigest.com/condition-monitoring-service-market-buoyant-with-flourishing-power-generation-industry-adoption-exhibits-a-notable-decline-amid-covid-19-pandemic-fmi.html "Condition Monitoring Service Market Buoyant with Flourishing Power Generation Industry; Adoption Exhibits a Notable Decline Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: FMI") to comment. A spokesperson for Litgrid, which operates the Lithuanian grid, told Reuters last year’s test of the Lithuanian-Polish LitPolLink connection upgrade showed that “in an emergency, the Baltic [countries will receive help and be able to connect to the networks of continental Europe”](https://www.financedigest.com/best-countries-in-europe-to-live-in.html "Best countries in Europe to live in"). We coordinate with regional partners and are ready to ensure reliable [power supply](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-uniper-to-restart-coal-fired-power-plant-as-gazprom-halts-supply-to-europe.html "Germany’s Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe") in all scenarios,” the spokeperson said. Removing the Baltics from the regional grid would also [cut off Russia’s](https://www.financedigest.com/pimco-cut-big-position-in-russia-cds-by-adding-bonds-in-q2.html "PIMCO cut big position in Russia CDS by adding bonds in Q2") Kaliningrad exclave, which is wedged between Lithuania, Poland and the Baltic Sea, meaning it would have to run the grid independently. A test of whether Kaliningrad could do this was planned for Saturday but [Russia called](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sets-deadline-for-rouble-gas-payments-europe-calls-it-blackmail.html "Russia sets deadline for rouble gas payments, Europe calls it ‘blackmail’") it off shortly before it was due. No-one could immediately be contacted in [Russia to comment on the Baltic grid plans](https://www.financedigest.com/us-says-russia-plans-fake-independence-votes-in-seized-ukraine-territory.html "US says Russia plans fake independence votes in seized Ukraine territory"). However, Russia has said it is committed to fulfilling its [energy supply contracts](https://www.financedigest.com/french-energy-suppliers-will-let-struggling-bakers-renegotiate-contracts-le-maire.html "French energy suppliers will let struggling bakers renegotiate contracts – Le Maire"). It says reduced gas deliveries this month via the [Nord Stream](https://www.financedigest.com/denmark-invites-nord-stream-operator-to-help-salvage-unidentified-object.html "Denmark invites Nord Stream operator to help salvage unidentified object") 1 pipeline to Germany were caused by the delayed return of turbine equipment being serviced by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada. ($1 = 0.9508 euros) (Additional reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels. Writing by Andrius Sytas; editing by Barbara Lewis) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---