バルト３国の電力網、ロシアから欧州に切り換え「成功」

【ビリニュス（リトアニア）ＡＦＰ＝時事】エストニア、ラトビア、リトアニアのバルト３国は９日、ソ連時代のロシアの電力網との接続を切断し、欧州の電力網に接続した。（写真は、リトアニアの首都ビリニュスで、「バルト海エネルギー独立の日」と題したイベントに参加する同国のギタナス・ナウセーダ大統領〈中央〉や欧州委員会のウルズラ・フォンデアライエン委員長他、関係各国の首脳ら）
　かつてソ連の構成国だったバルト３国は現在、ＥＵおよび北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）の加盟国で、この切り替えを長年計画していたが、２０２２年のロシアによるウクライナ侵攻がこの動きをさらに加速させた。
　ウクライナを強く支持するバルト３国はいずれも小国で、自国も標的とされる可能性があると懸念し、またロシアが電力網を武器化するのではないかと警戒していた。
　ウクライナ侵攻開始後、バルト３国はロシアからのガスおよび電力の購入を停止したが、電力網はロシアとベラルーシに接続されたままで、ロシアの管理下にあった。
　３か国の電力は８日朝、ロシアの電力網から切断された。その後、欧州に対し、自国の電力網が安定していることを証明するテストを実施。ポーランド経由で欧州の電力網に統合された。
　リトアニアのギタナス・ナウセーダ大統領は首都ビリニュスで関係各国首脳らと会見し「先ほど、バルト諸国の電力網と欧州大陸網の同期が無事完了した。われわれは完全なエネルギー独立を達成した」と述べた。電力網接続の知らせを電話で受け取った際には、その瞬間の動画をＸ（旧ツイッター）に投稿し、「さらばロシア、さらばレーニン」と述べた。
　ナウセーダ氏はまた「ロシアによるウクライナに対する戦争は、欧州の重要インフラに対する脅威の認識を根本的に変えた。最近起きた、バルト海の海底インフラに関する出来事は大きな懸念事項だ」と述べた。
　バルト海ではここ数か月の間に複数の海底通信ケーブルや電力ケーブルが切断される事態が起きている。一部の専門家や政治家は、ロシアがエネルギー供給への攻撃を含む「ハイブリッド戦争」を仕掛けていると非難しているが、ロシア側はこれを否定している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/02/10-17:27）

Three Baltic states connected to the European power grid Sunday after severing Soviet-era links with Russia's network, a shift EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed as freedom from threats and blackmail.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- former Soviet states that are now EU and NATO members -- had been planning the switch for years, but Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine accelerated the process.
The small Baltic countries, staunch supporters of Ukraine, fear that they too could be targeted and had worried that Russia might weaponise the electricity grid against them.
Moments ago, I received great news, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in Vilnius, alongside his Estonian, Latvian and Polish counterparts and von der Leyen.
The synchronisation of the Baltic states' electricity system with the continental European system has been successfully completed... We have achieved full energy independence, he said.
Nauseda posted a video to X of the moment he received confirmation of the grid connection. Goodbye Russia, goodbye Lenin, he said on the phone, before von der Leyen and others applauded.
Today history is made, Von der Leyen told reporters.
Electricity lines with Russia and Belarus are being dismantled. These chains of power lines linking you to hostile neighbours will be a thing of the past, she said.
This is freedom, freedom from threats, freedom from blackmail.
Later Saturday, the leaders each received a piece of dismantled cable at a celebratory event in Vilnius where they symbolically activated the grid connection to dramatic sound and lighting.
- 'Emancipation' -
A total of 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 billion) -- mostly EU funds -- has been invested in the synchronisation project across the Baltic states and Poland.
The Baltics integrated into the European grid via Poland.
Polish President Andrzej Duda called the synchronisation a milestone development... for the entire European Union.
It is the final step towards emancipation from the post-Soviet sphere of dependence, he added.
Nauseda called for substantial action at the European Union level to improve the resilience of the Baltic states' critical infrastructure.
Now is the time to secure our achievements. Russia's war against Ukraine has radically transformed the perception of the threats to the critical infrastructure in Europe, he said.
Recent incidents involving undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea provide a matter of great concern. And a call for resolute action.
Several undersea telecom and power cables have been severed in the Baltic Sea in recent months.
Some experts and politicians have accused Russia of waging a hybrid war, including the unconventional targeting of energy supplies, an allegation Moscow denies.
The Baltics had long planned to integrate with the European grid but faced technological and financial issues. Russia's invasion of Ukraine gave the project fresh urgency.
They stopped purchasing Russian gas and electricity after the invasion but their power grids remained connected to Russia and Belarus, and so controlled from Moscow.
This left their factories and facilities dependent on Moscow for a stable electricity flow.
- 'No surprises' -
The Baltic states disconnected from the Russian grid on Saturday morning.
They then operated as a so-called energy island while running tests to assure Europe their system was stable.
The Baltic grid operators said all tests had gone as planned.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko also welcomed the disconnection.
Such steps deprive the aggressor of the opportunity to use the electricity sector for blackmail and political games, he said Saturday.
On Sunday, the authorities in Ukraine announced power cuts for industry and business the following day because of damage to the power infrastructure wrought by Russian drone and missile attacks.
There had been concerns among the Baltic states possible sabotage or other disruptions linked to the grid switch, but it went off without a hitch.
The Baltic grid operators said Russia had cooperated during the process.
Latvian operator AST told AFP the biggest surprise Saturday was that there were no surprises.