In vain the Baltic states brush off the BelNPP - perhaps they still need it

Sergei Kondratiev, Deputy Head of the Economic Department commented to Baltnews on the expected demand for electricity and capacity of the Belarusian NPP.

The demand for electricity may not be so high, says Sergei Kondratyev, a senior expert at the Institute for Energy and Finance, at least at first. After all, the Baltic countries, in particular Latvia and Estonia, abandoned the original procurement plan and supported Lithuania in its decision to boycott the project. In the future, the position on the Belarusian NPP may be revised by the Baltic countries and Poland, but only if such a decision is economically feasible. Electricity prices are now such that the Baltic states and Poland can afford a boycott.

"It is worth making it clear. In fact, neither the Baltic States nor Poland are obliged to buy this electricity. The question is in goodwill and in understanding the economic component, whether this or that operation is beneficial or not. Accordingly, as far as I understand, now in Northern Europe electricity prices on the Nordpool market are quite low, so the Baltic countries quite easily refuse to cooperate with Belarus on the purchase of electricity," the expert explained to the Baltnews portal.

The fact is that the current market situation is temporary and unstable. It is due to low demand for natural gas due to the coronavirus pandemic and, accordingly, a low price, Kondratyev said:

“In the long term, the resources offered by the BelNPP may be needed by these countries. It is possible that they will change their position. This is largely due to the discussion of the issue of prices, the nature of supplies, and if we are talking about trade with Poland, then the question is, how connected the network infrastructure will be".