The Baltic power transmission system operators plan to notify Russia and Belarus about their decision not to renew the so-called BRELL contract and to exit the Moscow-controlled post-Soviet electricity system, the Lithuanian Energy Ministry said on Wednesday.
“In the coming weeks, the Baltic transmission system operators will inform the other parties of their joint decision not to renew the BRELL contract and to withdraw from the UPS system,” the ministry said in a press release.
“After the non-renewal of the BRELL contract, the Baltic countries will run an isolated system work test and synchronise with the continental European grids in February 2025,” it added.
At their meeting in the Latvian seaside resort of Jūrmala earlier on Wednesday, the Baltic energy ministers said that the Baltic countries are fully ready to synchronise with the continental European electricity grid next February.
“After assessing the progress report, the ministers stated that preparations for the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity system are progressing according to the plan,” Lithuanian Energy Ministry Dainius Kreivys said.
The Baltic countries have until August 7 – six months before the planned synchronisation with the continental European system – to notify Russia and Belarus of the non-renewal of the BRELL contract.
In August 2023, the Baltic prime ministers signed a declaration committing to the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grids with Western Europe by February 2025. The commitment was confirmed in December in a declaration signed by the European Commission and the Baltic and Polish energy ministers.
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