Baltic exit: leaving the Russian power system
19 July 2024
The Baltic states' electricity operators have notified Russian and Belarusian operators about their cut-off of the BRELL agreement, set to expire on 9 February 2025. This agreement concerns power grids, networks that deliver electricity from producers to consumers.
Since the Soviet period's end, Baltic states have remained synchronously linked to the Russian and Belarusian power grid through the BRELL agreement, placing them in a vulnerable position to Russia's machinations. Next February, the Baltic countries are due to disconnect from Russian and Belarusian grids and align their grid frequency with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA) through a power link with Poland. CESA is the largest synchronous grid in Europe, covering most of continental Europe.
 | Gerda Krivaite This shift, initiated in 2018 when the Baltics signed an agreement to connect their power grids to the EU by 2025, represents a broader EU strategy to enhance energy security and political cohesion in the continent. While energy prices are set to increase slightly in the Baltics, this action marks a significant geopolitical moment in Northern Europe, minimising Baltic reliance on Russian infrastructure. |
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