The final electricity consumption in Lithuania totalled 10.47 kilowatt hours (or 10.47 terawatt hours, TWh) in 2016. Residents, businesses, agriculture and transport used 4.5% more electricity compared to 2015. The growth rate in agriculture was as high as 8.4%, service sector 5.7%, residents 4.3%, and transport sector 4%. The lowest year-on-year growth rate (3.5%) was recorded in the industrial sector. “The demand for electricity in Lithuania last year was the highest since 1992. Taking into account that industrial and domestic electricity is used more efficiently, the actual increase is even greater. Over the past few years the electricity demand of industrial and business sectors have been growing the most, whereas transport sector holds the biggest potential for growth. It could be used by changing diesel trains into electric ones as in most parts of Europe”, says Daivis Virbickas, CEO of Litgrid, the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator, a CEEP member. [Tweet "Two thirds of electricity consumed in Lithuania was imported"]Two thirds of electricity consumed in Lithuania was imported. The majority (37%) was imported from Latvia, Estonia and Finland, 27% from Sweden via NordBalt link, 5% from Poland via LitPol Link, and the remaining part from third countries. “The economy is growing, and the efficiency of using the electricity transmission infrastructure is increasing. It is obvious that our investments in the grid are beneficial to users: the cross-border power links with Sweden and Lithuania – NordBalt and LitPol Link – brought down the wholesale electricity price by 13%. Scandinavian electricity is the cheapest in the region and it is no wonder that Sweden with its abundant hydro resources has become [...]
Amber Grid CEO, Saulius Bilys, argues that closer regional cooperation delivers very clear benefits to end-users and that the recently implemented partnerships and projects improved the security of gas supply for Lithuania and for the entire Baltic region. What do you want to accomplish as a CEEP member? Amber Grid, as part of Lithuania’s state-owned gas and electricity transportation infrastructure group EPSO-G, joined the CEEP in its endeavor to contribute to the drive of the region towards a more integrated, thus more competitive and efficient energy market across the continent, be it gas, electricity or any other energy source or route. Which should be CEEP’s priorities for the next years from your perspective? As you know, Amber Grid is in charge of national gas transportation system and it is hence natural that we are a strong believer and an advocate for an increased usage of natural gas - environmentally friendly energy resource across the region. We also feel that CEEP role is also in helping the relevant EU institutions to strike the right balance between common to all pan-European issues and national economic challenges. What is your opinion on the ongoing legislative proposals concerning the security of gas supply? We welcome the new legislative proposals aimed at enhancing the level of energy security and providing the basis for additional measures targeted for the security of gas supply. We strongly support the principle of solidarity envisaged in a proposed update for Security of Supply Regulation that opens up more options to safeguard gas supply to protected customers in difficult climatic conditions or in the event of gas supply disruptions. Talking about [...]
In the below interview, the CEO of EPSO-G, Rolandas Zukas, explains the impact of the regional cooperation on the energy sector from Lithuania, as well as describing the achievements from the last months in terms of security of supply, gas and electricity. From the LNG terminal in Lithuania’s Klaipėda port, to under-the-sea energy bridge with Sweden NordBalt as well as electricity link with Poland. What do you want to accomplish as a CEEP member? Nowadays when the future is happening faster than ever, we all in the energy sector have no other option than to work closer to tackle shared strategic energy challenges, but opportunities as well. In this respect, we see our membership in the independent industry body, CEEP, as a way to assist the EU once it takes legislative moves towards further diversification of its energy routes and sources, particularly across Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries. Which should be CEEP’s priorities for the next years from your perspective? EPSO-G, Lithuania‘s state run holding of electric energy and gas transportation systems, has long been looking for efficient ways to diversify from what it used to be a historical dependence on monopoly gas supply from the East and isolation of its electricity and gas networks from the neighboring European markets. The situation has drastically changed over the past 18 months. Lithuania welcomed the arrival of the „Independence”, a floating liquefied natural gas import (LNG) terminal that marked the end of country‘s reliance on gas supplies from a single source. That affected positively gas prices for consumers and businesses. The under-the-sea energy bridge with Sweden NordBalt as [...]
Ensuring uninterrupted, secure supplies of electricity is one of the most important tasks of the European Union’s electricity market. Poland, on account of its location in the central part of Europe, is obligated to create conditions for the safe transit of electricity between the eastern and western parts of the continent. Therefore, in order to connect the EU electricity market with the electricity markets of the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia), in 2008, a project was launched to build a power link between Poland and Lithuania (the LitPol Link). As part of this project, a stretch of a cross-border line connecting the two countries, has been built on the Polish side, and a total of 11 investment projects have been carried out. These include the construction of four 400 kV power lines and the construction of five new high-voltage power stations and the expansion of two existing high-voltage power stations. The construction of the interconnector, and work to ensure a specific level of transmission capacity for the constructed line, were associated with the need to adjust the whole network infrastructure on the Polish side, in such a way, that it could withstand specific loads. The Polish Transmission System Operator was tasked with creating such conditions for transmission, so that energy could be transported in a continuous manner, without running the risk of any interruptions. Domestically, the project will contribute to an improvement in the conditions, in which the National Power System operates, and it will also help increase the transmission capacity of cross-border interconnectors. The project will provide Poland with another cross-border link that will create opportunities for [...]
Lithuania’s energy situation changed considerably after the Klaipeda terminal was launched. Gas prices for industrial consumers are now 40% lower than before the terminal’s completion. Lithuania’s Minister of Energy, Rokas Masiulis, talked about his country’s methods of raising its energy security after the panel discussion event, organised by CEEP, during the European Economic Congress in Katowice (Poland). Jan Jujeczka (JJ): In the context of recent geopolitical challenges, do you see a shift in the European debate on energy? Rokas Masiulis (RM): Indeed, Europe has realised that unity in energy issues is as important as unity in politics. Energy is always about geopolitics. This results in energy continuously being used as a political tool. We see what is happening in Ukraine and the threats to discontinue gas supplies that this country faces. Europe needs to find its own solutions for energy, and not have to rely on others. First of all, we need to unify ourselves and get connected. We need to create an effective, internal European market in order to share resources and open routes for alternative energy supplies. JJ: This demands proper infrastructure, the key to which is the North–South Corridor. Does Lithuania’s government support this initiative by CEEP and the Atlantic Council? RM: The North-South Corridor is an important project. Its realisation is in accordance with Lithuania’s energy goals. We need to have a well-connected and synchronised electricity market. The same applies for gas pipelines. So, definitely, this initiative fits our agenda. JJ: In terms of ensuring energy security, Lithuania can be considered as a success story. How did you achieve it? RM: In 2007, Lithuania came [...]
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We represent the widely understood Central Europe energy sector (electricity generation, distribution and transmission, renewables, gas, oil, heat generation and distribution, chemical industries, etc.), universities and scientific institutions.
