Belarusian power grid operates well without links to Lithuania

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) – The test operation of the Belarusian power grid when transboundary power lines between Belarus and Lithuania were disconnected was a success. The statement was made by Belenergo Deputy Director General, Chief Dispatcher Denis Kovalev, the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry told BelTA.

The tests included two stages (8 and 11 April) and provided for disconnecting all the interstate power lines between Belarus and Lithuania for the sake of analyzing how Belarusian energy installations operate in these conditions. The tests were also supposed to evaluate the sufficiency of the technical measures designed to negate consequences of the withdrawal of the Baltic states from the BRELL energy ring, which connects Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

According to Denis Kovalev, the tests were a success and demonstrated that the Belarusian power grid can operate without links to the Lithuanian power grid. The tests also confirmed the correctness and sufficiency of the technical measures meant to improve the reliability of power supply of energy nodes near the border, primarily during a repair campaign. These technical measures are supposed to be implemented by 2023.

The Belarusian power grid and the Lithuanian one are connected by 13 power lines. Four of them are 330kV backbone power lines, which can be used to import and export considerable amounts of electricity and realize Belarus' transit potential. The other power lines are meant to supply power to energy nodes near the border on the Belarusian side and the Lithuanian one.