00:00The electricity in these cables is still connected with the
00:04Russian system, which also runs through Belarus.
00:08But that sits uneasily in Latvia, now a member of the
00:12European Union and NATO.
00:14So they are switching after long preparation.
00:17For energy sector people, it's quite high, because I was
00:22working very hard mostly for more than 15 years for this
00:26project happening.
00:28And this moment is very exciting for them.
00:30The Soviet Union built an electricity network connecting
00:34Russia, Belarus, and the Baltic states, Estonia,
00:38Latvia, and Lithuania.
00:40The huge scale meant electricity
00:42provision was stable.
00:43Other networks joined up further Eastern bloc countries.
00:50After the Soviet Union collapsed, the Baltic states
00:53could not follow Central European countries and quickly
00:56leave those networks.
00:58They had to build new infrastructure first.
01:03Now, accelerated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine,
01:06the project is ready to connect via Poland with the West.
01:11So since we are so well prepared, and we were
01:13preparing so many years, I think that technically, it's
01:17not something very difficult.
01:20We know what we have to do.
01:21We know the process.
01:22So technically, it's just a job which has to be done.
01:28And yet, some people here in Latvia are worried something
01:32might go wrong.
01:33Social media videos are circulating, urging people to
01:36stock up on candles for the switchover.
01:39Authorities here in Riga say this is a disinformation
01:43campaign, probably with roots in Russia.
01:47It's very hard to bring the information for society and to
01:52explain, because it's much more easier to believe that
01:54something will go wrong.
01:55There will be a lot of blackouts in Latvia.
01:57We are doing our homework.
02:00We are explaining for society.
02:01We have checked all the medicines, all hospitals.
02:05We check it in which stage they are.
02:06But we are physically going and see.
02:09We are explaining for municipalities, for all the
02:13NGOs, we have a conversation.
02:15Latvians should not expect a significant rise in costs, say
02:19electricity providers.
02:21At the most, a 5% increase.
02:25But this year's warm winter could even
02:28result in lower prices.
02:31It seems clear that there will be no lack of electricity here
02:35in the Baltic states after leaving the Russian network.
02:38They haven't bought Russian electricity since the start of
02:40the Ukraine war.
02:42But leaving the Eastern network and joining the Western one is
02:46not only a question of security, it has strong
02:49symbolism for the future.
02:52Also looking forward, these wind turbines on the Latvian
02:56coast are part of a move to expand renewable, independent
03:01energy sources.
03:02After connecting with the European grid, any excess
03:05generated on stormy days can now be sold westwards.
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