Ending energy isolation and bringing new economic dynamism to the Eastern Baltic Region

THE JUNCKER COMMISSION DELIVERED ON INTEGRATING THE BALTICS’ GRIDS INTO THE EU SYSTEM

DECEMBER 2014The Baltic Sea area gains access to LNG by way of the terminal in Klaipeda, Lithuania. This brings to an end the Baltic States’ almost complete dependence on a single supplier of gas and provides for the diversification of sources and routes. It brings important benefits to the region by increasing energy security and competition leading to lower prices for consumers in all three Baltic States.

FEBRUARY 2015Commission presents its Energy Union Framework Strategy emphasising enhanced regional cooperation within a common EU framework recognising the successful work within the High-Level Group for the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP).

JUNE 2015Commission and the Baltic Sea Region sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to modernise and strengthen the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan. The MoU includes now cooperation towards making the Baltic States form part of the continental European synchronous area, as well as ensuring security of supply, and the development of energy efficiency and renewables in the whole Baltic Sea area.

OCTOBER 2015President Juncker welcomes the signing of the grant agreement on the GIPL, the first gas pipeline connecting Poland and Lithuania. When completed, in 2021, the gas interconnector will end the long lasting isolation of the Baltic Sea region and bring the energy needed for a new economic dynamism to the region. This works in synergy with the LNG terminal in Świnoujście, Poland, which is currently being extended, and the Baltic Pipe Project, bringing North Sea gas from the region.

NOVEMBER 2015With EU support, the Baltic States region is connected with European partners through recently established electricity lines with Poland (LitPol Link) and Sweden (NordBalt) in synergy with the already existing connection to Finland (EstLink 1 and 2).

OCTOBER 2016Signing of investment in the Balticconnector. A first gas interconnector between Finland and Estonia will end the long lasting gas isolation of Finland and help boost security of supply and bring an economic lift to the region.

NOVEMBER 2017Commission presents Communication on strengthening Europe’s energy networks - well interconnected and integrated trans-European grids are indispensable for making the energy transition a success. A key political priority remains the synchronisation of the three Baltic States’ electricity grid with the continental European network.

MARCH 2018President Juncker and Heads of State or Government of the Baltic States and of Poland reaffirm their strong commitment to synchronising the Baltic States’ electricity grid with the continental European System by 2025.

JUNE 2018Signature of the Political Roadmap on the synchronisation of the Baltic States’ electricity networks with the Continental European Network via Poland.

MARCH 2019Commissioner Arias Cañete welcomes the signature of the grant agreement on the reinforcement of the internal grids of the Baltic States necessary for their synchronisation with the continental European grid.

APRIL 2019Vice-President Šefčovič and Commissioner Arias Cañete welcome the signature of the grant agreement on the Baltic Pipe, the gas interconnector linking Poland to Denmark and further to Norway, which enables access to gas from the North Sea to the region after its completion, allowing the Baltic States to benefit from a diverse portfolio of gas supplies.

MAY 2019The formal extension of the continental European grid to the Baltic States’ is approved within the European Network of Transmission System Operators in a process initiated by Poland. The agreement on the conditions for a future synchronous interconnection of the power system of the Baltic States and the power system of Continental Europe enters into force.

JUNE 2019Signature of the Political Roadmap on implementing the synchronisation of the Baltic States’ electricity networks with the Continental European Network via Poland.

CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY GRANTS FOR WORKS IN THE BALTIC STATES

541.2million

527.5million

ElectricityGas

0 100 200 300 40050Kilometers

Source: © Eurogeographics for the administrative boundaries;© PLATTS for the underlying energy network;Cartography: European Commission, Energy DG, June 2019

Existing and future gas and electricity infrastructure in 2019Completed gas infrastructure

Balticconnector

2022

Future gas infrastructure

$

Baltic Pipe$

Capacity enhancement of Klaipeda-Kiemenai pipeline

$

Enhancement of LV — LT interconnection

2023

GIPL

2021

$

Enhancement of EE — LV interconnection

$

2020

Świnoujście LNG $

Klaipeda LNG

Enhancement of InčukalnsUnderground Gas Storage

2025

Existing LNG terminal

Compressor station

Reverse flow

Storage facility

Internal line LT- PL border

Baltic synchronisation $

$

2031

2025

Internal line LV

2019

$

Internal line EE

2020

$

Interconnection EE - LV

2024

Interconnection EE - LV

2025

$

Internal line EE

2025

Internal line EE

2024

$

Interconnection EE - LV

2020

$

Internal line LT

2024

Internal line LTLitPol Link

$

NordBalt $

Harmony Link $

2025

EstLinkEstLink 2

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Baltic integration and synchronisation

Completed electricity infrastructure

Future electricity infrastructure

Finland

Sweden

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Poland

COMPLETED AND ONGOING GAS- AND ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE BALTIC REGION