Energy, Energy Market, EU – Baltic States, Lithuania

the Minister for Energy Arvydas Sekmokas

"From January of the next year, when the Ignalina AE is closed, we will have a very great part, up to 50% of electricity sold freely on the market probably within a period of a week, day and hour," the Minister for Energy Arvydas Sekmokas said after a meeting with the Estonian Minister for Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts on Monday. A working group is currently drafting rules, according to which electricity would be traded in the Baltic States. Sekmokas stated that the high-level group under the European Commission was to complete the plan by July. The Minister noted that the common market was a necessary condition for the region to have energy links with Sweden, Finland and later on with Poland and could be integrated into the European energy system.

Estonia intends fully integrate into the common Baltic market by 2013, whereas Lithuania plans to do that earlier. The common market would provide equal conditions for competition; moreover, it would offer attractive prices for foreign investors.