The Seimas advances synchronisation with the continental European network

Press release, 15 June 2023

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Synchronisation of the Electricity System with the Continental European Network, aiming to create legal preconditions for the preparation for the early desynchronisation of the electricity system from the IPS/UPS system.

The amendments to the Law create the legal preconditions for the implementation of the synchronisation project in stages and in a more flexible and efficient manner. The Law establishes that the Lithuanian electricity system must be ready for the synchronisation with the continental European network by 2024 and not by 2025, therefore, first of all, the projects enhancing the security of the Lithuanian electricity system must be implemented. After the synchronisation, projects enhancing the stability of the electricity system and ensuring integration with the internal energy market of the European Union will be implemented.

According to the drafters of new provisions, in order to mitigate threats to energy and national security, since the beginning of Russia's open military aggression against Ukraine, Lithuania has intensified discussions with other Baltic States and EU institutions on the accelerated desynchronisation of the electricity system from the IPS/UPS system operated from Russia.

As announced by the Ministry of Energy, at the meeting of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan High-level Group in August 2022 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the European Commission endorsed an action plan to prepare for accelerated synchronisation of the electricity system. In line with this plan, transmission system operators are currently undertaking additional technical studies on the basis of which joint decisions on accelerated synchronisation of the electricity system will be taken in June and July.

The amendments to the said Law were adopted unanimously by 128 votes of the Members of the Seimas in favour.

Rimas Rudaitis, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5  239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]