Polish, Lithuanian grids analyse land route for new power link
13/11/2023 10:37
WARSAW, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Polish and Lithuanian network
operators Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE) and Litgrid
are considering a land route for a second power line between the
countries to cut the cost and time needed to build a new cable,
PSE said on Monday.
Three decades after splitting from the former Soviet Union
and 17 years since joining the European Union, Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania still depend on Russia to ensure stable power
supplies.
A project to build an underwater power link between Poland
and Lithuania faces a significant delay as costs have exceeded
initial projections. The link, initially set to be completed in
2025, is expected to be built in 2027-2028.
PSE said on Monday one option was to build a land cable,
rather than an underwater link.
"According to a preliminary assessment, choosing this
variant may allow for a reduction of the project budget and its
faster implementation," it said in a statement.
The land cable could in part use the corridor of the planned
Rail Baltica railway route between Poland and Lithuania, PSE
said, adding options were being considered. The decision on
which will be chosen will be made in the first half of 2024.
(Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; editing by Barbara Lewis)
((Marek.Strzelecki@thomsonreuters.com;))