“The European Commission supports Lithuanian Energy Independence Strategy as a prerequisite for implementing the energy infrastructure projects of most importance to Lithuania”, has stated Romas Švedas, the Vice-minister of Energy. Today, R. Švedas presented the Lithuanian Energy Independence Strategy in Brussels, to the Director-General for Energy of the European Commission, Philip Lowe.

Public sector has to secure implementation of the most important energy infrastructure priorities which is not always secured by the market. The subject was emphasized by Commissioner for Energy G. Oettinger during a session of the Energy Council which took place on December 3.

The Concession Tender Commission, which has been delegated to organise a tender for the selection of a Strategic Investor into Visaginas nuclear power plant, having analyzed the submissions to the request for binding proposals, announces

The representatives of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland met with the European Commission as a follow-up to the meeting in May 2010 to discuss progress towards the integration of the Baltic electricity market into the EU energy market as well as the development of the regional new nuclear power plant in Lithuania to improve the supply security of the region.

The European Commission and the US administration support Lithuania???s aspirations to escape the post-Soviet energy space and integrate into Western energy systems. These clear indications have reached Vilnius this week.

On November 10, 2010 expired the term of submission of binding proposals of Strategic Investors into Visaginas nuclear power plant (VNPP). The Concession Tender Commission, which has been delegated to organize a tender for selection of the Strategic Investor, met today and is currently analyzing the received documents.

On 3th of November 2010 conclusions of the Working Group Report were presented to the media and society.

On September 10, 2010, Ministry of Energy sent to potential strategic investors of Visagino nuclear power plant (VAE) requests to submit binding proposals. After Mr. A. Sekmokas, minister of energy, approved the evaluation of results of non-binding proposals, performed by the Concession Commission, invitations were sent to tender participants, whose submitted non-binding proposals met the tender conditions.

On the 19th of May, 2010, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the Framework for amendment of the Law on Natural Gas. The Framework foresees separation of gas supply from gas transmission through high-pressure gas pipelines.

On 31 May, Brussels. Ministers of four neighboring countries - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland – met with European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger to discuss matters of mutual importance regarding the integration of the Baltic electricity market into the EU energy market, as well as the development of a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania for the supply security of the region.

On May 24, detailed plan of the land parcels for the new Visaginas new nuclear power plant (NPP) was approved. The plan specifies the land parcels necessary for the construction and exploitation of the new NPP and the exploitation and decommissioning of the Ignalina NPP. The formed land parcels are a very important part of the Lithunia’s property contribution into the construction project of the new Visaginas NPP.

On May 4, 2010 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the concept amendment of the Law on Electricity, by which the Third Energy Package of the European Union is being implemented. The Government also approved the reorganization plan of energy companies of Lithuania. It stipulates the establishment of four units of electricity companies for the activities of transmission, generation, distribution and maintenance. The state will retain the control of all units.