Lithuania stresses need to protect critical energy infrastructure at the Energy Council
On 16 December in Brussels, Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas attended a meeting of the EU Energy Council, where ministers discussed the future of EU energy policy towards a functioning energy union and actions to reduce energy prices and ensure a secure supply of energy sources. Ministers also discussed the Community’s energy policy priorities in the context of geopolitical developments, the EU’s winter preparations, the future of geothermal energy and other issues.
As regards the future of energy policy, most ministers agreed that priority should be given to further and faster development, digitisation and modernisation of the EU’s electricity transmission and distribution networks to ensure the effective integration of an increasing amount of renewable energy sources. In this respect, solutions for balancing and flexibility of the electricity system are essential.
Attention must also be paid to the physical and cyber security of critical energy infrastructure.
“In the current geopolitical situation, it is essential to ensure the protection of critical energy infrastructure, especially in the EU's border regions where we face the greatest risks. This would also increase the attractiveness of the EU energy market for foreign investment. Lithuania is already taking measures on its own to protect critical energy assets, but coordinated action is needed at regional and EU-wide level,” said Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.
The Minister stressed that it is also important to pay more attention at EU level to the risks of remote control of renewable energy technologies. This is a very real threat where renewable electricity generation and supply to consumers could be significantly disrupted by cyber-sabotage or by remotely disconnecting large amounts of solar generation capacity, thereby causing security stresses in electricity transmission networks.
Lithuania has asked the European Commission to quickly present a concrete plan for the EU to completely eliminate energy imports from Russia as soon as possible.
“This is a very important component of the security of the EU energy system and effective ways must be found to enable Member States to replace energy imports from Russia with alternative energy sources,” the Minister stressed.
The Energy Council also endorsed the Council conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy and presented the EU’s winter preparedness. Poland, which will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January 2025, presented the work programme for its Presidency.
During the Energy Council, Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas met with Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Polish Minister for Climate and Environment, Wojciech Wrochna, Polish Vice-Minister for Industry and Commissioner for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, Kaspars Melnis, Latvian Minister for Climate and Energy, Yoko Alender, Estonian Minister for Climate Action and Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing. The meetings discussed preparations for the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grids with the continental electricity grids and other regional energy issues.
The next meeting of the EU Energy Council is scheduled for 17 March 2025.
Last updated: 18-12-2024
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