Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, Energy, Energy Market, Nuclear power plant

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 22:18

Belarusian nuclear power boycott won't push up electricity prices in Lithuania

BC, Vilnius, 15.09.2020.Print version
Lithuania's planned boycott of Belarusian electricity once the neighboring country launches its Astravyets nuclear power plant will not lead to a rise in electricity bills for households, Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said LRT Radio, cites LETA/BNS.

On one hand, Belarus accounts for a relatively low share of Lithuanian electricity imports and, on the other hand, Lithuania has boosted its domestic power generation, the minister told.


"We generate about 50% of our electricity here in Lithuania today, compared to some 30% earlier. This is one of the factors," Vaiciunas said.


"The second factor is that our electricity imports from both Russia and Belarus have significantly decreased this year. Electricity from Belarus accounts for up to 5% of the total import portfolio," the minister said.  


"In other words, even if there were price dumping and Belarus supplied electricity for free, this would have practically no impact on our market. There will definitely be no impact on our electricity prices," he added.


The three Baltic countries continue working on technically solutions to ensure that the Astravyets plant's electricity does not enter the Baltic market through Russia, according to the minister.  


Vaiciunas told LETA/BNS last week that all technical solutions would likely be ready in October. 


Lithuania is the most active critic of the Astravyets plant, located some 50 kilometers from its capital, saying that it fails to meet international safety and environmental standards, an allegation that Minsk denies.






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