Poland, Lithuania to Sign "Energy Bridge" Accord

Feb 5, 2008 - BBC Monitoring European

An agreement establishing a Polish- Lithuanian venture to build an "energy bridge" linking Poland's and Lithuania's power grids is to be signed in Warsaw on 12 February, Lithuanian Economics Minister Vyatas Navickas said.

Navickas discusses energy cooperation with Polish, Latvian and Estonian economics ministers in Vilnius today. Poland said in October that the construction of the energy bridge with Lithuania would be delayed unless

Poland got 1,000-1,200 MW from the new nuclear power station under construction in Ignalina.

According to Poland's Economics Minister Waldemar Pawlak, the linking of Poland's and Lithuania's grids is a "matter of overriding importance."

The minister stressed that Poland expects to get a "satisfying share both in the enterprise for the construction of a new power station, and then in electric power."

The ministers also discussed plans to build the Amber gas pipeline from Russia through the Baltic countries and Poland to Western Europe as an alternative to the Baltic Sea Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Also on Monday Polish economics minister met Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas who said that Poland's request for 1,000- 1,200 MW could be met if the Ignalina power station had the capacity of up to 3,400 MW.

"If the power station has the capacity of 3,400 MW, all sides to the project will be satisfied," Kirkilas said.

Originally published by PAP news agency, Warsaw, in English 1822 4 Feb 08.