OREANDA-NEWS. On April 06, 2009 Lietuvos Energija has completed reviewing applications for the position of General Manager of Kruonis pumped storage plant – the Management Board has endorsed the candidacy of Mr. Laimonas Lukocius. Mr. Gintaris Mekas, the acting General Manager of Kruonis PSP will continue working as Technical Manager, reported the press-centre of Lietuvos Energija.

Before his employment at Lietuvos Energija, Mr. L.Lukocius, aged 33, was General Manager of Ventus-Nafta, previously – Deputy General Manager – Director of Commerce. Before that, he occupied various positions at Lietuva Statoil UAB. Laimonas Lukocius possesses all competences and skills, necessary for Management of Kruonis PSP. The Ministry of Energy, a shareholder of LEO LT AB, has supported this candidacy. “I hope that the new manager will become a firm link between the company and Ministry of Energy and will successfully participate in the process of transferring Kruonis pumped storage plant to the state”, - said Mr.Darius Masionis, CEO of Lietuvos Energija AB.

My key goals are to ensure a stable and efficient operation of the company and prepare for separation of Kruonis PSP from Lietuvos Energija AB”, - said Mr. L. Lukocius. According to him, it is highly important to coordinate the process of company’s spin off with competency. Under this contract, Kruonis PSP, the subsidiary of Lietuvos Energija AB (likewise Kauno Hydro Power Plant) will be separated from the company by May 27, 2010.

Meanwhile, conditions are being prepared and subsequent to their approval a legal and functional separation of power plants from Lietuvos Energija AB will be carried out. Following the approval of the conditions by the shareholders of LEO LT AB (Government of the Republic of Lithuania and NDX Energija UAB), shares of both power plants will be transferred to the ownership of the Republic of Lithuania for 1 litas.

About Kruonis PSP                                                                               
The purpose of Kruonis PSP is to balance the generation and consumption of electricity as well as prevention of accidents and liquidation of faults in the power system. It is a fast reserve of the system, used as 24-hour load fluctuation adjustments for the power system. After disconnection of Ignalina NPP generator, in order to compensate the capacity deficit, generators of Kruonis PSP are automatically launched.

Briefly about Lietuvos Energija AB
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.