OREANDA-NEWS. On 22 December 2008 was announced, that last Friday the Chief Executive Officers of 42 European Transmission System Operators (TSO) from 34 countries, met in Brussels to create a new association, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). Following signing of Articles of Association, during the first General Assembly of ENTSO-E, Mr Daniel Dobbeni, CEO of Elia, TSO in Belgium was elected ENTSO-E President with a 2-year mandate. Darius Masionis, CEO of Lietuvos Energija AB was elected to the Board of the association. The Board will coordinate activities of ENTSO-E among meetings of General Assembly, to be held several times a year.

“I value such international trust as a new opportunity for Lithuania and Baltic States to expedite interconnection process with the West European power system (UCTE)”, - says Mr Darius Masionis. According to him, the closure of Ignalina nuclear power plant at the end of 2009 creates a totally different model of power systems than the one that existed thus far. Such changes require not only accurate and responsible, but also extremely fast preparation. “We will seek to advance as much as possible through construction of interconnections with Poland and Sweden”, - says Mr D.Masionis.

After the implementation of Lithuania-Poland and Lithuania-Sweden power link projects, the Baltic energy ring will be much stronger. It will help ensure the security and reliability of Baltic power grids.

The establishment of ENTSO-E is a proactive step of the TSO community to contribute to reliable and efficient pan-European and regional markets, ahead of the European Union Third Legislative Package of the Internal Electricity Market. The establishment of ENTSO-E will further strengthen TSO cooperation in a number of key areas: such as the development of technical and market-related network codes, and the coordination of system operation and grid development, with the aim of enhancing the integration of the European electricity market, contributing to a sustainable energy environment and ensuring secure and reliable operation of the European power transmission system.

ENTSO-E will work with a clear mandate based on full consultation with European Commission, Regulators and stakeholders. This new environment will enable TSOs to focus on transparent objectives and to speak with “one voice” on the issues concerning the Internal Electricity Market.
Lietuvos Energija AB is a subsidiary of the national investment company LEO LT AB, which performs functions of electricity transmission grid (110-330 kV voltage) owner, system operator and market operator and seeks to ensure the stability of electricity transmission and power system in Lithuania. LEO LT AB controls 96.4 per cent of Lietuvos Energija AB shares.