Skuodis warns of a threat to Lithuania of 166 million. EUR loss

M. Skuodis announced the losses that threaten Lithuania on Facebook. Here he explains that Lithuania has started 337 million. The electrification of one of the main railway lines amounts to 166 million euros. euros.

After the implementation of the project, all trains from the Belarusian border to Klaipeda would be turned into power plants, and the percentage of electrified railways in Lithuania would increase by 8%. at 35%, the EU average is 52%.

“It just came to our notice then. But here in 2020. March. The European Commission has identified a critical environmental issue with the project and warned that Lithuania will not be able to approve funds for electrification until Lithuania has managed to properly regulate protected areas in the that project activities are intervening (setting specific goals, etc.). Everything would work out. In such cases, it only remains to thank the comments and do the homework again. How did it go with them? Ogi in November. Lithuania has returned with his work and, I suppose, he has received preliminary conclusions from the experts that the critical problems have not been solved, ”writes M. Skuodis about the inherited work.

According to him, there is only one month left for decisions and there is a risk of losing 166 million. euros. He is surprised that solutions have not been found at the right time and that the problem is being urgently addressed by teams from the Ministries of Transport, Finance and Environment.

“How would you like if the first month. In your new job, would you be aware of possible losses and a hit of this magnitude to one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects currently being implemented? Asked M. Skuodis rhetorically.

S. Gentville: Hard to justify such inaction so far

The Environment Minister, Simonas Gentvilas, qualifies the current situation as a previous omission.

“On my fourth working day, December 21, as Minister of the Environment, I sent a humble letter to the Commissioners of the European Commission apologizing for the scandalous delay described by M. Skuodis. Lithuanian railways should not be punished for the failure of the Ministry of the Environment in protecting protected areas, “added S. Gentvilas on his Facebook.

He assures that work is being done at double speed to close the gaps in the protection of protected areas, which have not been closed for several years, by January 20.

“This is not the end, we have at least some moldy infringement procedures in the ministry. This year it will determine whether or not we pay hundreds of millions of euros in aid and fines to Europe. It is difficult to justify such inaction so far,” said S. Gentvilas.

The EU project was implemented by AB LTG Infra, which is 100% shares owned by Lithuania Railways.