Poland and Lithuania agreed Tuesday for closer cooperation in energy in a bid to reduce their dependence on Russia. The national energy companies of the two countries signed an agreement - with Polish President Lech Kacyznski and his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus looking on - to establish a joint venture to link up the two countries' energy networks by 2012. The investments by Polska Grup Energetyczna and Lietuvos Energija are targeted at 250 million euros (362 million dollars), with the venture helping to connect Lithuania's electric grid to the European Union through Poland. The linkup is an important part of the Poland's participation in the construction of a new Ignalina nuclear power plant. Lithuania and Poland want to build it together with the two other Baltic EU members, Latvia and Estonia. Lithuania is hoping to connect its electrical grid with the EU via Poland to shield it from an electricity shortfall when Lithuania closes the existing Ignalina nuclear power plant at the end of 2009, as part of its membership agreement with the EU.
