Masiulis pushes common position on Belarus nuclear plant with Latvian, Estonian ministers

Lithuanian Energy Minister Rokas Masiulis met with Latvian Deputy Prime Minister Arvils Ašeradens and Estonian economy and infrastructure minister Kristen Michal in Riga to try to find a common position on the issue of electricity from the Belarus nuclear plant at Astravyets making it into EU markets.

“It is important to find a common and mutually acceptable solution in the region during the transition period to the Baltic countries synchronization with European networks – to limit the negative third-party commercial electricity flows impact on our electricity market and to prevent unsafe nuclear power stations near the external borders of the EU”, Masiulis said, referring to the distance of 50 km from Vilnius under construction Astravyets nuclear power plant project.

The ministers of the three Baltic States agreed to continue to coordinate a common position on this issue.

Masiulus was attending the Ernst & Young Baltic Utilities Conference which brings together the Baltic countries’ energy ministers, energy companies and experts.

The ministers also discussed the possibilities of creating regional gas and electricity markets, dealing with the Visaginas nuclear power plant decommissioning and collaborating in the development of a biofuel market.

“A single Baltic biofuel market will ensure sustainable growth of the market, which guarantees based biofuel prices, intense competition and transparent,” said Masiulis.