Conexus takes a major step in the Latvia-Lithuania interconnection capacity upgrade project 

The Single System Operator for Natural Gas Transmission and Storage JSC Conexus Baltic Grid (Conexus) informs that within the framework of the European project of common interest "Improving the Latvia-Lithuania Interconnection" (ELLI) the rebuilding of the gas pipeline branch to the gas regulating station "Baldone" has been completed.

The ELLI project foresees a number of activities in both Latvia and Lithuania until the end of 2023, which will double the gas interconnection capacity between Latvia and Lithuania in both directions. The gas transmission capacity is expected to be increased by a third as from November this year, as agreed by the project promoters in the summer of this year when it was decided to accelerate the project.

Alexey Batrakov, Head of Technical Development, Conexus, says: "We are pleased with the progress of the Latvia-Lithuania Interconnector Improvement Project, with the major works on the gas pipeline branch to the Baldone gas regulation station. In the coming weeks, the project will be put into operation, bringing us one step closer to the project's ultimate goal - increasing the interconnection capacity, which will strengthen the energy security of the whole region. We will also be able to provide more flexibility to market participants to meet growing demand."

The project will increase the interconnection capacity to 130.5 GWh per day in the Latvian direction and 119.5 GWh in the Lithuanian direction. 

The total investment in the project by Latvian and Lithuanian system operators Conexus Baltic Grid and Amber Grid amounts to €9.7 million, with the Connecting Europe Facility co-financing set at 50%.