The Estonian electricity system operator Elering and the Latvian system operator AST have formally launched the third Estonian-Latvian electricity connection. On Estonian territory, the third Estonian-Latvian connection comprises the Harku-Lihula-Sindi 330/110 kV line and the Kilingi-Nõmme-Riga 330 kV line section to the Estonian/Latvian border.
The project, which has a transmission capacity of 600 MW, is an important step to integrate Baltic power grids with the Continental Europe network, which is targeted in 2025. Baltic countries are currently synchronised to Russian network. The new line will also help eliminate the transmission capacity deficit in the Estonia-Latvia cross section by 2024, when the reconstruction of the Valmiera-Tartu and Valmiera-Tsirgulin lines is completed. The total cost of the project is €170m, of which €112m is financed by the European Union.