Lithuania–Latvia Interconnection
{{Short description|Natural gas pipeline}}
{{Infobox pipeline
| name = Lithuania–Latvia Interconnection
| type = natural gas
| photo =
| caption =
| map = LITHUANIA LATVIA INTERCONNECTOR-en.svg
| state =
| province =
| coordinates =
| lat =
| long =
| direction = south-north, north-south
| start = Vilnius, Lithuania
| through = Pasvalys, Lithuanian-Latvian border
| finish = Riga, Latvia
| par =
| owner =
| partners = Amber Grid
Conexus Baltic Grid
| operator =
| technical_service_provider =
| contractors =
| construction = 1962
| expected =
| est =
| decom =
| length =
| length_mi =
| discharge = {{convert|4.58|e9m3/a}} (planned)
| diameter_mm = 500
| diameter_in =
| compressor_stations_no =
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}}
Lithuania–Latvia Interconnection ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos-Latvijos dujotiekis}}, {{langx|lv|Lietuvas–Latvijas gāzes vada starpsavienojums}}) is a natural gas pipeline which connects Lithuania and Latvia.
History
Gas pipeline from Lithuanian border to Iecava with the diameter of 500 mm was built in 1962. It is the oldest pipeline in Latvia.[http://www.lg.lv/?id=3377&lang=eng Improvement of interconnection between Latvia and Lithuania (EC project name: 8.2.1 LT-LV interconnection (Latvian part))] In 2013 construction works for enhancement of capacity of interconnection was finished.[http://www.dujos.lt/index.php/pranesimai-spaudai/dujotiekiu-jungties-tarp-latvijos-ir-lietuvos-pajegumu-padidinimo-projektas-baigtas-7-men-anksciau-nei-planuota/47605 Dujotiekių jungties tarp Latvijos ir Lietuvos pajėgumų padidinimo projektas baigtas 7 mėn. anksčiau nei planuota (LT)] New discharge capacity will allow transmissions of 6.48 million cubic metres per day from Lithuania to Latvia and 6.24 million cubic metres per day from Latvia to Lithuania. The pipeline is linked with Estonia–Latvia Interconnection.
= Enhancement =
ELLI (Enhancement of Latvia-Lithuania interconnection) was included into the third PCI List adopted by the European Commission on 24 November 2017, in the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan Gas priority corridor.[https://www.conexus.lv/elli-eng Enhancement of Latvia - Lithuania interconnection] After completion, transmission of natural gas capacity between two countries will roughly double.[https://www.conexus.lv/uploads/filedir/Conexus_infograf_nov2019_ENG_A4_mini_1.pdf ELLI - Conexus]
The expansion is set to start operating in 2022–2023.[https://www.ambergrid.lt/uploads/documents/ELLI%20lankstinukas%20LT(1).pdf ELLI]
= Explosion =
{{main|2023 Lithuania–Latvia pipeline explosion}}
On 13 January 2023 an explosion happened in part of the pipeline by Pasvalio Vienkiemiai village, Pasvalys District Municipality.[https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1866189/dujotiekio-sprogimas-pasvalio-rajone-ugnis-lokalizuota-gyventojai-raginami-uzsidaryti-langus-ir-likti-namuose Dujotiekio sprogimas Pasvalio rajone: ugnis lokalizuota, gyventojai raginami užsidaryti langus ir likti namuose] Open fire reached up to 50 m in height. As a precaution the entire village of Valakėliai was evacuated. As a result Lithuania stopped natural gas transit to Latvia.[https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1866295/aiskeja-sprogimo-pasvalio-rajone-detales-gyventojams-duju-tiekimas-nesutriks-teigia-kad-piktybinio-poveikio-dujotiekiui-nemato Aiškėja sprogimo Pasvalio rajone detalės: gyventojams dujų tiekimas nesutriks, teigia, kad piktybinio poveikio dujotiekiui nemato]
On 16 January 2023, the repairs were fully finished and gas supply to Latvia restored at full capacity.{{cite web |title=Suremontavus dujotiekį Pasvalio rajone, visiškai atkurti dujų tiekimo pajėgumai į Latviją |url= https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/verslas/4/1867607/suremontavus-dujotieki-pasvalio-rajone-visiskai-atkurti-duju-tiekimo-pajegumai-i-latvija |website=lrt.lt |publisher=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |language=lt |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023 }} After the repairs Lithuania were exporting up to 90 GWh per day of natural gas to Latvia via the pipeline.{{cite web |title= Amber Grid: Suremontavus dujotiekį Pasvalio rajone, visiškai atkurti dujų tiekimo pajėgumai į Latviją |url= https://www.ambergrid.lt/lt/news/pranesimaispaudai/suremontavus-dujotieki-pasvalio-rajone-visiskai-atkurti-duju-tiekimo-pajegumai-i-latvija |website= ambergrid.lt |publisher=Amber Grid |language=lt |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023 }}
See also
References
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{{coord missing|Lithuania}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lithuania-Latvia Interconnection}}
Category:Natural gas pipelines in Lithuania
Category:Natural gas pipelines in Latvia
Category:Latvia–Lithuania relations
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