Capacity increase eases congestion at Latvian-Lithuanian interconnection point

The accelerated increase of the interconnection capacity from Lithuania to Latvia to 90 GWh per day from 1 November has already significantly eased the congestion situation at the Latvian-Lithuanian interconnection point, says Uldis Bariss, Chairman of the Management Board of Conexus Baltic Grid (Conexus), the single natural gas transmission and storage operator.

The extensive gas transmission improvement works are being carried out as part of the Latvia-Lithuania Interconnector Improvement (ELLI) project, which will continue until the end of 2023. The first major handover was celebrated yesterday at the Kiemenai interconnection point with representatives of Conexus and Lithuanian natural gas transmission system operator Amber Grid.

"Increasing capacity by a third from Lithuania to Latvia is the first step in increasing capacity in both directions, strengthening energy security and independence for the whole region. Although the project is due to be completed by the end of 2023, close cooperation with Amber Grid, the Lithuanian natural gas transmission system operator, has already resulted in a technical capacity increase from 1 November this year. This swift action was taken in response to the energy tensions caused by Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, the rapid, high price fluctuations on the European gas market and the united position of the Baltic States against Russian gas entering our national markets, thus ensuring energy security for the whole region," said Mr Bariss.

He adds that the Lithuania-Latvia interconnection improvement project is one of Conexus' priorities. By the end of the year, 70% of the project works in Latvia will have been completed and will continue next year.

"We are pleased that the activities implemented under the project are already delivering major benefits to system users by easing the previously observed congestion at the Latvia-Lithuania interconnection point. The expected guaranteed capacity volumes that will be available to system users in the future will be decided together with our Lithuanian counterparts early next year."

The ELLI project runs until the end of 2023. The project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility.