Lithuania’s Ministry of Energy has assured the public that the disruption of the “EstLink 2” power cable between Estonia and Finland has no impact on the stability of the Lithuanian electricity system. Electricity supply to consumers is fully secured, and there are no significant effects on electricity prices.
Energy officials from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Nordic countries remain in constant communication, exchanging updates about the fault in the undersea cable. Preliminary reports from Finnish authorities suggest sabotage as the likely cause, as the December 25 incident coincided with damage to three other undersea cables.
Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas expressed concern over repeated incidents affecting undersea infrastructure. “These recurring events are becoming a trend. We are in close coordination with our partners in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Sweden, as well as local security institutions in Lithuania, to prepare for various scenarios. At this time, our energy system remains stable, and electricity prices are not significantly impacted,” said the minister.
The situation has also been reported to European Commission officials, emphasizing the importance of protecting energy infrastructure in the context of synchronization projects. Minister Vaičiūnas highlighted Lithuania’s commitment to enhancing preventive measures and speeding up responses to such incidents.
The “EstLink” system comprises two cables: a 350 MW and a 650 MW link. The disruption on December 25 occurred at 12:26 p.m., affecting the 650 MW “EstLink 2” direct current connection. Operators “Elering” in Estonia and “Fingrid” in Finland are actively working to locate and address the fault in the Baltic Sea.
Notably, the “EstLink 2” cable experienced a significant failure earlier in January 2023, with repairs extending until September and costing approximately €30 million. During that period, electricity prices for Estonian consumers rose by about 10%.
The Ministry of Energy reassures Lithuanian citizens that the country’s energy system is robust, and current conditions do not suggest any changes in electricity prices.
