Lithuania’s new government plans to step up the synchronisation of the Baltic energy grid with the continental European system and strive for an “absolute blockade” of the Belarusian nuclear plant.
According to the government’s programme made public on Monday, "we should withstand pressure and not only bar access for electricity generated by [the Astravyets NPP] to our market, but also minimise access to our energy system”.
The government aims to achieve an "absolute blockade of the Astravyets NPP” in Lithuania “and strive for [a full blockade] on the EU scale".
Read more: Belarus nuclear plant – safety threat or Kremlin's tool to keep Baltics close?
"We will ensure that electricity from the Astravyets NPP does not enter the Lithuanian market either directly or indirectly and that our consumers do not pay for it," according to the programme.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are due to disconnect from the BRELL grid, which also includes Belarus, to link up with the European system by 2025.
The Baltic states and the European Union consider it a strategic project for the bloc’s energy security.
Lithuania has been one of the most ardent critics of the Astravyets nuclear plant built by Russia’s state atomic corporation Rosatom and sponsored by a loan from the Kremlin.
Vilnius maintains the nuclear plant built on the border with Lithuania is unsafe. Minsk denies all allegations.
Read more: Incident reported at Belarus nuclear plant days after launch
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