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

The government will decide on Wednesday whether the Ignalina NPP and the Utena substation reconstruction, which is crucial for the synchronization of the Baltic power networks, should be listed as a project of state importance. In Vaiciunas' words, completion of the project will reduce the possibility for electricity from the future Astravyets NPP in Belarus to enter Lithuania.

In his words, the reconstruction project should be completed by 2020.

Asked whether the disconnection plans had been discussed with Belarus, Daivis Virbickas, CEO of Lithuania's electricity transmission operator Litgrid, said that the decision should first be made by Lithuania before notifying the neighboring state.

"First of all we should make the decision at home, and then talk to neighbors. Let's say, when Belarus was building its Astravyets nuclear power plant and reconstructed the network, they first of all decided themselves, worked out the scheme and notified us of the changes, they dictated the tone here. If the government makes the decision tomorrow, we will communicate the decision accordingly," said Virbickas.