AFP: Sparking tension: Baltic electricity plan turns tables on Russia
Vilnius (AFP) - When Lithuania inaugurates two electrical links to the West on Monday, it will launch a process that will reduce its reliance on Russian electricity, and one day could make Russia dependent on the Baltic grids.
With Russia accustomed to wielding energy supplies as a political weapon, the possibility that its westernmost outpost of Kaliningrad could become reliant on the West to keep the lights on has Moscow seething, straining already tense ties over Ukraine.
"The first electrons have already passed" through the EU-backed power cables from Sweden and Poland, said Energy Minister Rokas Masiulis after the links were tested.
WNU Editor: Laying a few electrical cables from Sweden and Poland to the Baltics is not enough to make them energy independent. But diversifying their energy supplies is not a bad idea .... and one that they have decided is in their interests to do so.
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