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07.03.2025
On March 7, Latvijas Pasts VAS, in collaboration with Augstsprieguma tīkls AS, issued a special postage stamp to commemorate the synchronisation of the Baltic energy system with Europe and the disconnection from the Russian-controlled grid nearly a month ago. The set of three stamps, created in cooperation with the Lithuanian and Estonian postal administrations, serves as a tribute to this historic milestone, marking a significant step toward enhancing the energy security and stability of the Baltic States while also opening up new opportunities in the electricity and Baltic balancing capacity markets.
“The connection to the European electricity grid was this century's most significant energy security project in the Baltics. There is a sense of deep satisfaction with the efficient international cooperation and professional execution of the project, which, despite divergent opinions, allowed the synchronisation to proceed seamlessly for everyday users. The stamp commemorating this historic event serves as a token of gratitude to all those whose hard work contributed to the project’s success,” accentuates Kaspars Melnis, Minister for Climate and Energy.
At the formal presentation at the Post Office on Elizabetes Street, philately enthusiasts had the opportunity to partake in the stamp’s first-day cancellation. The set consists of three stamps that complement each other to form a unified design, yet each can also be used individually.
“This set of stamps, created at the initiative of the Baltic transmission system operators, symbolises our collaboration in the implementation of the synchronisation project, where each country’s contribution was crucial and complemented the others in achieving the common goal. I am pleased that the synchronisation has been completed as planned, and this set of stamps will serve as a reminder of February 9 as the Baltic Energy Independence Day,” points out Rolands Irklis, CEO of Augstsprieguma tīkls AS.
“The creatively depicted electrical circuit in the stamp design symbolises the unity of the Baltic States within the European electricity grid. The stamps of the three countries together form a unified design, showcasing both the diversity and common cause of our region. The first-day covers of all three countries are visually linked in a similar way. It should be noted that each country’s stamp has a distinct perspective on electricity generation sources — wind turbines in Estonia, a hydroelectric dam in Latvia and solar panels in Lithuania, — representing the diverse potentials of our region,” relates Māris Upenieks.
The new stamp has a face value of 2.54 euros — the postage rate for sending letter-post items weighing up to 20 grams within the European Economic Area. The stamp has a print run of 20,000 copies, while the specially designed envelope is available in 500 copies.
“In these geopolitically difficult and unpredictable times, the synchronisation of the Baltic States’ electricity grids with Europe is not only a historic step in strengthening the energy independence of our region, but also a key factor in ensuring the continuity and development of Latvijas Pasts’ operations,” emphasises Ģirts Rudzītis, CEO of Latvijas Pasts VAS. “We are a national critical infrastructure company, and the functionality of our logistics and IT systems — key to providing high-quality services to our customers — would be unthinkable without stable electricity supply. Being part of Europe also in this regard is a logical consequence that only reaffirms our place within it.”
The formal event was attended by Kaspars Melnis, Minister for Climate and Energy; Ģirts Rudzītis, CEO of Latvijas Pasts VAS; Rolands Irklis, CEO of Augstsprieguma tīkls AS; and artist Māris Upenieks, the designer of the philatelic items.
The timing of the stamp’s issuance meaningfully marks nearly a month since the synchronisation of the Baltic energy system with Europe. On 7 February, the agreement for the participation of the Baltic energy systems in the BRELL network expired; without delay, on 8 February, the Baltic States severed the last links with the Russian-controlled system; and on 9 February, the energy systems were successfully synchronised with the European grid.