Swedish power link battle rages on

Oct 22, 2008
TBT Staff in cooperation with BNS

VILNIUS/RIGA – The longstanding dispute between Latviaand Lithuaniaover which country should play host to a new Baltic power link with Swedenhas deepened, with both countries announcing that they are ready to begin construction.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas told reporters on Wednesday that he would enter talks with his Swedish counterpart and confirm that the country was ready to begin construction of the project.

“We have convinced the European Commission that we can launch the project. The Commission is interested in a fast-track launch of the project, it [the Commission] should approve it, and Swedenunderstands that,” the prime minister said.

Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis, meanwhile, told Latvian public radio on Wednesday that the country was ready to begin construction of the power link as soon as 2010.

He said that the plan of action to be performed in the nearest future in order to commence the construction is clear.

Godmanis said that last week during the meeting of the leaders of the Baltic states with the representatives of Swedenand the European Commission the parties agreed on a precise plan of organizing the Baltic link plan with Sweden.

Kirkilas said, however, that Latvia was not ready to implement the project, and was not as far along in their planning as Lithuania. He said that the Latvian side “could not initiate it tomorrow, since they would have to conduct commercial and technical studies and secure financing.”

Lithuania's national energy company Leo LT hopes to build the link by 2016. The company's investments into the project are seen reaching some 1.1 billion litas (318.84 million euros). Leo LT claims to be able to implement the project without outer support.

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