Estonia could experience power outages. Kaja Kallas, the country’s Prime Minister, is calling on her fellow citizens to be prepared. In fact, if Russia excludes the Baltic States from the common electricity grid, then the country will face a blackout.
Kaja Kallas states:
“We must also prepare for the possibility that Russia may disconnect Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from its power grid. It would be wise to prepare for possible power outages – this affects public authorities, businesses and every individual.”
While it invites Estonians to prepare for this, it stresses that such a disruption would be “temporary”.
The Russian embassy in Estonia emphasizes that “Russia is not the cause” of the exit of the Baltic States from the common network.
Estonia is getting ready
Estonia has called up 3,000 reservists. They will participate in an annual defense exercise. This one will then last one week. However, the Prime Minister wants to reassure that Estonia is not, to date, under any military threat. Also, it invites Russian citizens living in Estonia not to fight in Ukraine.
She states:
“Don’t go there, because there’s no going back.”
In fact, the Baltic States are still very dependent on Russia.
Baltic States soon connected to ENTSO-E
Faced with this dependence, the EU intends to disconnect the Baltic States from their common network with Russia and Belarus. This project, financed to the tune of 1.6 billion euros, should be completed in 2025. Thus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania would join the European network.
Estonia, like the other two Baltic states, could connect to the ENTSO-E network within 24 hours after a possible disconnection by Russia. Thus, power outages would be limited.
The general manager of Litgrid, a Lithuanian operator, explains:
“If Russia disconnects us, even today, we would be ready. Our analysis shows that the electricity supply would not be rationed, no serious disruption is expected.”
In Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, the country’s president, says he is ready if Russia disconnects the country from the regional network.
