Baltic Visions for Energy: Embracing Common Interests
A session at the 25th Economic Forum in Krynica, Poland delved into various aspects of how the Baltic states are looking to improve their regional security in the face of geopolitical tensions in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. One aspect touched upon was improving the energy security of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Once considered an “energy island,” that region is being turned into an integrated part of the European energy system.
Providing a status report was Greta Monika Tuckute, Director, Center for Geopolitical Studies, Lithuania, said that after the collapse of the Soviet Union Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have become politically and economically independent, and have managed to achieve Euro-Atlantic goals.
“However,” she added, “energy-wise, they're still kind of separate and they're dependent very strongly on one monopoly and one energy resource coming from Russia."
Russia, she continued is still using this influence in order to strengthen its own political goals and influence in the region.
“Therefore,” said Ms. Tuckute, “it was very important for us to implement certain projects which would allow us, the Baltic states, to be more independent and to be more integrated with the European Union – other countries and other regions in terms of the energy connectivity.”
That meant, she explained, that certain projects such as S-link, or the Lithuanian LNG terminal, which recently began operations, and has enabled Lithuania to diversify natural gas resources, which can come now, not only from Russian pipeline sources, but from any other country that can supply gas, according to her.
She opined: “The energy connectivity of the Baltic states is ongoing and there are certain projects which still need to be completed. This allows the Baltic states not to be as much of an 'energy island' as we used to be; however, there are certain energy resources like oil, for instance, which is mostly coming from Russia. Also, there is the electricity system, which is still connected to the former Soviet Union electricity synchronization system, and which also has to be translated into the European Union synchronization system.”
Specific tasks remain to be achieved in the Baltics, explained Ms. Tuckute, who posed a question.
“Is it enough to transform an energy island into an energy region without interconnections of energy? Because we have to have some energy generation options – interconnections are not always enough. Maybe regional cooperation should also be taking more active participation in this case.”
For example, she recalled that a few years ago the Baltics were deliberating over a new nuclear power plant to be built in Lithuania, but no agreement has been reached.
“There is storage in Latvia,” she offered, “which could be used more actively for the use of all the Baltic states.”
In conclusion, Ms. Tuckute said that although Baltic energy connectivity has progressed a lot and some projects have been realized, like the gas pipeline from Poland to Lithauania, “Nevertheless, we still have to be open minded and search for regional cooperation opportunities and to invest in certain projects with the interests of all the Baltic states, to be more inclusive and not look only at national interests as sometimes happens.”
-Drew Leifheit