VILNIUS — Progress on both power links that will help Lithuania overcome energy dependence on Russia is underway after the European Commission approved €131 million tranche in funding. Before it goes through however, the funding must be passed in Brussels.

Lithuania needs to build power bridges to both Sweden and Poland as soon as possible to help compensate for the closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which will power down in just over a week.

The closure of the plant means Lithuania will have its energy needs firmly in the hands of Russia, whose grid the country is connected to. Estonia is set to supply 10 percent of the country’s electricity, but the rest will be generated using gas meaning a probable price hike for the country’s consumers.

Partial funding for work on the €552 million undersea link to Sweden was approved by a European Commission infrastructure financing committee, but needs the nod from European Parliament.

The energy ministry is expecting the funding to get the rubber stamp in January next year.

The energy link, which will connect the Baltic grid to the Nordic grid, will allow the countries to sell energy to one another. Optimists say the 350 km, 1,000 megawatt undersea cable could be in place by 2015.

The link to Poland is also expected to be done within the next few years with the scheduled date of operation in 2012.