By Kontur and AFP | 2024-07-17

The Baltic states July 16 officially notified Russia and Belarus of their decision to decouple from the Soviet-era power grid in February 2025.

Baltic electricity transmission system operators Elering (Estonia), AST (Latvia) and Litgrid (Lithuania) gave notice that they will not extend the BRELL agreement, which expires February 7.

The Baltic states will technically disconnect from the Integrated Power System/United Power System (IPS/UPS) grid with Russia and Belarus on February 8, and will connect with the synchronous grid of Continental Europe the following day.

The electricity systems of the three Baltic states are already prepared for emergency synchronization at any moment, if necessary, said Elering board chairman Kalle Kilk.

"In Estonia, during the last five years, most of the objects of the electricity network which ensure the stability and reliability of the electricity system, including three synchronous condensers, have been completed," he said, according to ERR News.

"The last of the major constructions is the reconstruction of the Viru-Tsirguliina high-voltage power line, which is 90% complete and will be fully operational again by winter," Kilk said.

Work is under way in Latvia and Lithuania, the news outlet reported.

Cutting ties

The move marked a major step in achieving energy independence from Moscow for staunch Ukraine supporters Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which were once ruled by the Soviet Union but are now in the European Union (EU) and NATO.

All three nations have had tense relations with Moscow following independence, and ties have further deteriorated since Russia invaded Ukraine nationwide in February 2022.

"We will cut the last energy ties with Russia," Rokas Masiulis, director of Lithuania's Litgrid, said in a statement.

"In half a year, we will not only disconnect from the Russian and Belarusian electricity grid but also dismantle the last remaining power lines," he added.

Though the Baltic states declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, their power grids have remained connected with Russia and Belarus.

Their frequency is thus regulated from the Moscow headquarters, meaning they still depend on Russia to ensure a stable electricity flow.

"Given Russia's history of using energy supplies as a tool of political coercion, this leaves the Baltic States' power grid vulnerable to Moscow's machinations," the Baltic Security Foundation said in a report published in May 2021.

The countries decided to synchronize their power grids with the Continental European system in 2018, having secured €1.2 billion in funding from the EU.

They will access the EU power grid through Poland.

The Baltic states stopped buying Russian gas and electricity after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The prime ministers of all three states first declared their intention to disconnect from the Russian-controlled power grid last August.

"The fact that the Baltic States still remain a part of the BRELL electricity system, managed from Russia, is a threat to the Baltic States' energy security," they said in the declaration.