Lithuania has signed a protocol of intent with the Russian electricity utility over the export of power, according to the economic ministry. Earlier in the year the Economy minister said Lithuania would like to export 9000 GWh this year.
Lithuania has large overcapacity mainly by virtue of its two 1300MW Russian designed nuclear powers units at the Ignalina power plant. It exported 3300GWh in 1999 but this shrank to 1330GWh in 2000.
The country’s export potential is restricted because it has links only to the Baltic and Russian grids. It stopped exporting power to Belarus after the neighbour failed to pay a $50 million debt for power supplied in 1998 and 1999.
