Construction of the “Estonia–Latvia Third 330 kV Interconnection” power line begins in Northern Vidzeme
Published: 13.02.2019
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In Northern Vidzeme—in the Rūjiena and Mazsalaca municipalities—AS "Augstsprieguma tīkls" (AST) has begun construction work on the first stage of the “Estonia–Latvia Third 330 kV Interconnection” project. Work is currently under way on concreting the foundations for the line towers, with the first towers scheduled to be erected at the beginning of May. Work is also scheduled to begin shortly in the Burtnieki, Aloja and Limbaži municipalities.
“The line has been divided into sections, and its construction is planned to be carried out in stages by the end of 2020, proceeding from the Estonian border towards Riga. A new approximately 20-kilometre-long electricity transmission line will be built from the Estonian border to the existing electricity transmission line corridor in the Rūjiena–Aloja section, and will then continue along the corridor of the existing 110 kV line past Aloja, Limbaži and Skulte to Saulkrasti. Further on, the line will be located alongside the future “Rail Baltica” railway, while the final 2-kilometre section to Riga TPP-2 will run parallel to the planned route of the E22 motorway,” AST Board Chairman Varis Boks explains the progress of the project.
The new electricity transmission network interconnection is an important future infrastructure project for the entire Baltic Sea region. It will increase the security of electricity supply in the Baltic region, ensure the efficient operation of the electricity market in the Baltics, and enhance the competitiveness of producers both within the Baltic states and between the Baltic and Nordic countries. The transmission capacity in both directions is expected to increase by 500/600 MW.
As part of the project, a 176-kilometre-long 330 kV high-voltage electricity transmission line will be built from Riga TPP-2 to the Estonian border, and the TPP-2 substation will be expanded. Meanwhile, Estonia’s transmission system operator “Elering” will build the section of this line within Estonian territory to the Kilingi-Nõmme substation. The line crosses 11 municipalities, and a total of 560 towers are planned to be erected. The total cost of the project is approximately EUR 84 million, 65% of which will be covered by funding from the Connecting Europe Facility. The design and construction of the electricity transmission line are being carried out by the joint venture "EE-LV Interconnection", while the work at the TPP-2 substation is being carried out by the Latvian branch of Empower AS.
Given the importance of the project, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted it the status of an object of national interest. Granting the status of an object of national interest is a means by which the state implements its political decision regarding planned national development in the energy sector and fulfils its international commitments.
“The line has been divided into sections, and its construction is planned to be carried out in stages by the end of 2020, proceeding from the Estonian border towards Riga. A new approximately 20-kilometre-long electricity transmission line will be built from the Estonian border to the existing electricity transmission line corridor in the Rūjiena–Aloja section, and will then continue along the corridor of the existing 110 kV line past Aloja, Limbaži and Skulte to Saulkrasti. Further on, the line will be located alongside the future “Rail Baltica” railway, while the final 2-kilometre section to Riga TPP-2 will run parallel to the planned route of the E22 motorway,” AST Board Chairman Varis Boks explains the progress of the project.
The new electricity transmission network interconnection is an important future infrastructure project for the entire Baltic Sea region. It will increase the security of electricity supply in the Baltic region, ensure the efficient operation of the electricity market in the Baltics, and enhance the competitiveness of producers both within the Baltic states and between the Baltic and Nordic countries. The transmission capacity in both directions is expected to increase by 500/600 MW.
As part of the project, a 176-kilometre-long 330 kV high-voltage electricity transmission line will be built from Riga TPP-2 to the Estonian border, and the TPP-2 substation will be expanded. Meanwhile, Estonia’s transmission system operator “Elering” will build the section of this line within Estonian territory to the Kilingi-Nõmme substation. The line crosses 11 municipalities, and a total of 560 towers are planned to be erected. The total cost of the project is approximately EUR 84 million, 65% of which will be covered by funding from the Connecting Europe Facility. The design and construction of the electricity transmission line are being carried out by the joint venture "EE-LV Interconnection", while the work at the TPP-2 substation is being carried out by the Latvian branch of Empower AS.
Given the importance of the project, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted it the status of an object of national interest. Granting the status of an object of national interest is a means by which the state implements its political decision regarding planned national development in the energy sector and fulfils its international commitments.
