Lithuania Prime Minister criticizes slow power restoration after severe storm

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius stated that the situation following a severe weekend storm remains critical, noting that apologies to the public are insufficient. The storm caused significant damage, resulting in one death, four injuries, and power outages affecting over 268,000 consumers.

While acknowledging the impressive number of workers and brigades deployed, the Prime Minister criticized the pace of electricity restoration as too slow. He highlighted that the reliance on overhead power lines contributes to the severity of such disruptions and suggested that moving lines underground would mitigate future issues.

To expedite recovery, the government is considering hiring Polish contractors on a contractual basis to assist Lithuanian crews. Sinkevičius emphasized the need for both immediate recovery efforts and long-term strategic investments to protect the nation's energy infrastructure against future storms.