Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, Energy, Energy Market, Lithuania

"Politically, we already received decisions several weeks ago, the Latvian government's decisions, to be more precise, and that’s a truly strong political guarantee. In terms of the technical implementation of that political decision, we are working on that now, it's a moving target but it depends on when that methodology (on power trade with third countries) and the whole system should be activated," Vaiciunas told.

He reminded that the trilateral methodology and other decisions would come into force at the time when energy testing starts at Astravyets.

"From that specific moment when power production starts, that's our guideline. We all, the three Baltic states, see this process equally, that we need to find solutions and they need to be confirmed until that time. We are speaking about October which is a preliminary deadline. It's not written down or confirmed in any way but we all understand what deadlines we have," the minister said.

Belarus reported earlier this month that the Astravyets' nuclear power plant's 1st reactor would start producing power in November.

The Baltic states' power transmission system operators have already presented the new trilateral methodology to their regulatory institutions, Estonian company Elering said. Latvia's AST also reported that it had presented the methodology to the country's regulator. Lithuania's Litgrid confirmed it to on Tuesday that the draft document had been presented to the National Energy Regulatory Council.

According to Vaiciunas, discussions now center on when the trilateral methodology should come into force and also how the system ensuring the boycott of Belarusian electricity should be implemented.

In late August, Latvia announced it decision to stop power trade with Belarus once Astravyets comes online. Lithuania welcomes Riga's decision progress in the ongoing negotiations on Astravyet's boycott and an example of solidarity in the area of energy.

Lithuania criticizes the Astravyets nuclear power project's safety and is ready to boycott electricity produced at the nuclear facility.

Belarus rejects all criticism.