Proposed construction of National Importance for the Interconnection of the North-Western and Eastern Electricity Transmission Networks (Construction of the 330 kV Darbėnai–Varduva–Mūša Transmission Line, the 330 kV Panevėžys–Mūša Transmission Line and the 330/110/10 kV Varduva Substation) (August 2026)

On 2026-08-14 the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, acting as a Point of Contact regarding notification in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (hereinafter – the Espoo Convention), notified the Republic of Latvia about a proposed activity under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Lithuania – Construction of the engineering infrastructure (electricity transmission networks) of the Project of National Importance for the Interconnection of the North-Western and Eastern Electricity Transmission Networks (Construction of the 330 kV Darbėnai–Varduva–Mūša Transmission Line, the 330 kV Panevėžys–Mūša Transmission Line and the 330/110/10 kV Varduva Substation), for which an Environmental Impact Assessment (hereinafter – EIA) is being carried out.

The routes of the overhead electricity transmission lines are planned within the territories of the Kretinga, Skuodas, Mažeikiai, Akmenė, Joniškis, Pakruojis and Panevėžys District Municipalities of the Republic of Lithuania.

The organizer of the proposed activity is Litgrid AB – the Lithuanian Electricity Transmission System Operator, Karlo Gustavo Emilio Manerheimo st. 8, LT-05131, Vilnius, tel. no. +370 707 02 171, e-mail: [email protected]., contact person: Valerijus Makarovas, tel. no. +370 687 93476, e-mail: [email protected]

The preparer of the EIA documents is UAB Infraplanas, Inovacijų st. 3, Biruliškių village, LT-54469, Kaunas district, www.infraplanas.lt; e-mail: [email protected], contact person: Tadas Vaičiūnas, tel. no. +370 693 90 610.

The proposed activity comprises the construction of the 264.74 km long 330 kV Darbėnai Varduva–Mūša and Panevėžys–Mūša overhead transmission lines, together with the construction of the new 330/110/10 kV Varduva Substation. The engineering infrastructure corridor of the overhead transmission lines covers an area of approximately 2,031.08 ha, while the construction zone within forest land occupies approximately 264.402 ha. Within the planned site of the Varduva Substation, approximately 11.10 ha of forest land is proposed to be converted to other land uses.

During the construction phase, foundations for the overhead transmission line towers will be installed, steel lattice towers will be erected, conductors, shield wires and an optical ground wire will be strung, the 330/110/10 kV Varduva Substation will be constructed, and the works required to connect it to the existing electricity transmission network will be carried out. Where necessary, temporary access roads, construction sites and construction material storage areas will be established. During the construction period a temporary increase in the intensity of construction machinery and heavy goods vehicle traffic is anticipated due to the transportation of construction materials, structural components and equipment.

Most of the proposed overhead transmission line route extends through agricultural land, while locally crossing forest areas, surface water bodies, transport infrastructure and other engineering infrastructure. The route also passes through scattered residential areas and rural settlements, while avoiding densely urbanized areas. The closest point of the proposed 330 kV overhead transmission line route is located approximately 760 m from the state border between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia. The remaining sections of the proposed activity are located at a distance of not less than approximately 1.5 km from the state border of the Republic of Latvia. The planned 330/110/10 kV Varduva Substation is situated approximately 4 km from the state border between the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia.

Within the immediate cross-border area of Lithuania and Latvia, the nearest Natura 2000 site is the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Ventos aukštupys (site code LTAKM0002), located approximately 730 m from the proposed overhead transmission line. No other protected areas or cultural heritage properties are located within the border area.

 The nearest isolated residential buildings on the Latvian side, in the settlement of Janmuiža, are situated at more than 1 km from the proposed overhead transmission line. No cultural heritage properties have been identified within the border area.

Letter of the Ministry of Environment of Lithuania (2026-08-14)