Economics, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Integration, Lithuania

Dalia Grybauskaite at the the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant. Reykjavik, 27.08.2011. Photo: president.lt

According to the President, Lithuania stands ready to share its eurointegration experience and knowledge should Iceland's people decide to seek membership in the EU, whereas Iceland could greatly benefit Lithuania by its experience in geothermal energy. The President said Iceland was an example of how successfully and inventively a small country can use limited natural resources and implement ambitious energy projects, informed BC press service of the president.

"The Nordic countries are well-advanced in developing alternative energy. Being situated on the zone of the European-American tectonic plate fracture, Iceland takes advantage of its unique geological structure – it uses geyser heat to produce geothermal energy. This is an example how inventively and efficiently energy sector can be managed and Lithuania should follow this example," President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

The President also visited the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant, which is the second largest plant of this type in the world.

According to the President, Lithuania also has resources for the development of geothermal energy but does not use this possibility in full. With the help of advanced technologies and experience of other countries, power could be generated, according to the President, from the geothermal waters of Western Lithuania. At present, Lithuania has only one geothermal power plant, Geoterma in Klaipėda, of very limited capacity.

The President believes that as we seek energy independence, we have to work actively and explore every possibility: promote liberalization of electricity and gas markets, set up infrastructure for power connections, implement the Visaginas nuclear power plant project, develop renewable energy, biofuel, waste incineration.

According to the President, energy diversity means lower dependence on monopolistic energy suppliers and more competitive and more consumer-friendly prices and prevents the use of energy as a tool of political influence.