Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – In August 2026, Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) served 777,000 passengers, the largest ever recorded number of passengers in the Lithuanian Airports’ network in the month of August and by nearly 10% more compared with August 2025.

LTOU operates Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga international airports.

According to the company, after a record-breaking July – when all three Lithuanian airports served 756,000 passengers – LTOU maintained its growth pace in August.

It is reported that 5,700 flights were served in August, which is by 7.3% more than during the same period in 2025.

The largest passenger flow in August was recorded at Vilnius Airport (VNO), where almost 570,000 passengers were served – an increase of 11.7% compared to the same period last year. Around 4,200 flights were also operated at VNO – 8.7% more than during the same period in 2025.

Kaunas Airport handled nearly 163,000 passengers in August – 4.9% more than a year earlier. More than 1,000 aircraft took off from the airport, a 0.7% increase compared to August 2025.

Meanwhile, Palanga Airport served 44,000 passengers – 6.1 percent more than in August last year. Fifty flights were operated there, 10.3% more than in August 2025.

In August, LTOU passengers could choose from 86 regular routes: 54 from Vilnius Airport, 26 from Kaunas and 6 from Palanga.

According to the company, cargo volumes also increased in August as 9% more tonnes of cargo were transported through Lithuanian Airports compared with the same period last year.

LTOU maintained the largest market share among Baltic airports in August, reaching 41.6%.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – The Board of electricity and gas distribution company Energijos skirstymo operatorius (ESO) is convening Thursday afternoon to consider whether to approve the resignation of the company’s CEO Renaldas Radvila.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius announced in parliament earlier the same day that the Board was scheduled to meet at 4:30 pm.

Ignitis Group communications partner Valdas Lopeta confirmed this to the news agency ELTA but did not comment the reasons behind the CEO’s decision to step down.

Minister of Finance Taurimas Valys supports Radvila’s decision to resign, saying that the CEO’s responsibility had to be evaluated due to the crisis with power supply following a storm.

Earlier, Minister of Energy Lukas Savickas stated that the CEO’s situation should be assessed based on how ESO implemented recommendations following another storm in 2024 and if enough was invested in the resilience of the power grid.

As reported, a powerful storm swept through Lithuania on 22 August 2026 uprooting trees across the country, resulting in one fatality and four people injured.

More than 268,000 households were left without power amid the storm by the evening of 22 August, while the power grid experienced more than 9,000 faults.

A week later, by 30 August, 22,000 households were still without power supply.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – Prime Minister of Lithuania Mindaugas Sinkevičius will visit Ukraine next week, where he plans to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky and other officials.

“I will travel next week to meet with the prime minister and other political officials,” Sinkevičius announced.

He added that the schedule might change due to ballistic attacks which Russia is launching against Ukraine.

The head of Government said he plans to meet with Zelensky.

Moreover, in the nearest future, the Lithuanian prime minister intends to visit Poland, but the date of the visit has not been set yet.

As reported, this August, Sinkevičius paid his first foreign visit as prime minister to Latvia, where he met with the leadership of the Government and Parliament, and President Edgars Rinkēvičs.

He later visited Estonia, where he was received by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – The Seimas will consider legislative amendments proposed by Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas and other MPs that would establish the registry of sexual criminals.

After the first reading on Thursday, the proposal passed with 98 votes in favour, 1 vote against and no abstentions.

According to Olekas, similar registries exist in Poland and the United States and are needed for parents or guardians to be aware that sexual predators live in the area so they could take precautions.

Politicians propose establishing a public list of individuals convicted of crimes against children, which would include the person’s first name, last name, birth year, the municipality where they live and the date of the guilty verdict. The list would be accessible to everyone online, without registration.

A person would be included in the list for five years since completing to serve the imprisonment sentence or since the end of other kind of punishment.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – Baltic Ground Services (BGS), an international provider of ground handling and aircraft fueling services, has begun cooperation with Airest, providing into-plane fueling services across Kaunas (KUN) and Riga (RIX) airports, BGS stated in a press release.

The services are delivered by BGS at Kaunas Airport and by Gulfstream Oil (GSO), a BGS Group company, at Riga Airport.

The partnership marks the start of cooperation between BGS and Airest, further expanding the company’s customer portfolio across the Baltic region.

“We are pleased to welcome Airest as a new customer and begin our cooperation across two stations in the Baltics. This partnership demonstrates our ability to provide consistent and reliable fueling services through our network, ensuring the same operational standards for our customers in different locations. We look forward to supporting Airest’s operations in both Kaunas and Riga,” said Vitalis Dudys, Head of Commerce at BGS Group.

“Reliable local partners are essential to ensuring smooth daily operations across our network. We are pleased to cooperate with BGS and Gulfstream Oil, whose teams provide professional and dependable fueling services in both Kaunas and Riga. Having trusted partners at both stations supports the efficiency and reliability of our operations,” said Deniss Zilkins, CEO at Airest.

The new partnership further strengthens BGS Group’s position as a trusted aircraft fueling provider in the Baltics, supporting airlines through its network of fueling companies across the region.

Luxembourg, September 10 (ELTA) – In the second quarter of 2026, the average price of agricultural output in the EU fell by 5.8% compared with the second quarter of 2025. This was a third consecutive quarter of decline, reports Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The average price of agricultural inputs (goods and services consumed in agriculture and not related to investment, such as energy, fertilisers or feedingstuffs) increased by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2026. This followed a period of relative price stability throughout 2025, into the first quarter of 2026.

In the second quarter of 2026, there were year-on-year decreases in the average price of agricultural output in 20 EU countries. The sharpest rates of decline were in Denmark (-17.2%), Ireland (-16.2%), Latvia and Estonia (both -14.5%), Luxembourg and Lithuania (both -14.2%). The sharpest rates of increase were in Croatia and Malta (+3.9% each) and Cyprus (+3.5%).

By contrast, the average price of inputs not related to investment increased in all EU countries. The fastest rates of increase were in Lithuania (+16.4%), Romania (+11.7%) and Latvia (+9.7%). The slowest rates of increase were in Hungary and Portugal (+1.2% each) and Malta (+1.5%).

Among the key agricultural output products, there were sharp declines in the average price of milk in the EU (-16.6% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026) and cereals (-5.6%).

Among the key goods and services consumed in agriculture, the average price of energy and lubricants in the EU rose by 22.0% and that of fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 13.4%.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – In Lithuania, one of the most important stages of track superstructure construction has been completed on the nearly 9 km-long section of the new European standard gauge Rail Baltica double-track railway. The rails have been flash welded into continuous welded rail (CWR). The project will now move on to the next stage, the installation of turnout systems, reports joint venture RB Rail AS.

“Each completed stage of construction brings us closer to our primary goal of delivering a modern European rail connection. Today, it is increasingly important to speak not only about plans but also about tangible results already visible on construction sites. This steady progress strengthens confidence in the project and lays a solid foundation for its subsequent implementation stages,” says Rail Baltica Lithuania Chief Officer Mindaugas Ivanavičius.

Continuous welded rail technology ensures track stability, long-term durability of the infrastructure, and reliable operation. This is particularly important for the Rail Baltica line, which is designed for passenger train speeds of up to 249 km/h. A high-quality track structure is one of the key prerequisites for ensuring safe and comfortable railway operations in the future.

To ensure the highest quality standards, every rail weld is independently inspected and assessed. Engineering and technical supervision specialists verify compliance with technical requirements and the stringent standards applicable to high-speed railway infrastructure.

Track superstructure construction works are being carried out by the joint venture partners Leonhard Weiss International (Germany) and Leonhard Weiss OÜ (Estonia). The turnout systems for this section of Rail Baltica are currently being manufactured by voestalpine Railway Systems Lietuva.

Meanwhile, construction and design activities are continuing across other Rail Baltica sections in Lithuania, including the modernisation of the section between the Polish-Lithuanian border and Kaunas, the development of signalling subsystem for this route, the design of individual point infrastructure projects, and procurement procedures for future project activities.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – Lithuania is nearing the completion of one of the largest railway infrastructure modernisation projects in the country’s history. Once the Vilnius–Klaipėda railway section is electrified, electric trains will be able to reach the Port of Klaipėda via Lithuania’s main railway artery. The project will not only transform passenger and freight rail transport but will also contribute to climate change mitigation goals and the development of a more sustainable transport system, reports Lithuanian Railways Group (LTG).

At present, three railway sections in Lithuania are electrified: Vilnius–Kaunas, Vilnius–Kena and Lentvaris–Trakai. Together, they account for approximately 8% of the country’s railway network. Upon completion of the project, which includes the electrification of 363 km of railway, the share of electrified lines will increase to 28%. In the future, once the European-gauge Rail Baltica project is completed, more than one-third of Lithuania’s railway infrastructure will be electrified.

“The electrification of the Vilnius–Klaipėda section is one of the most important infrastructure modernisation projects in the history of independent Lithuania. Its benefits cannot be measured solely in kilometres of electrified railway. It is an investment in cleaner transport, greater railway competitiveness and more convenient travel for passengers,” says Arūnas Rumskas, Acting CEO of LTG Group.

One of the largest infrastructure projects in Lithuania

The electrification project covers Lithuania’s busiest railway transport corridor between Vilnius and Klaipėda. The works were carried out in three phases: the Vilnius railway node, the Kaišiadorys–Radviliškis section, and the Radviliškis–Klaipėda section.

Approximately 99% of the works have now been completed. The total value of the project is around EUR 457 million, of which approximately EUR 200 million is financed through the European Union Cohesion Fund. Additional investments are being made in connecting the system to the electricity transmission network and upgrading traffic management systems.

Once completed, the electrified railway connection will link Lithuania’s eastern border, the country’s four largest cities, and the Port of Klaipėda.

Overcoming significant challenges

According to Vytis Žalimas, CEO of railway infrastructure manager LTG Infra, the project team had to adapt to major external developments during implementation.

“The project faced significant challenges. The outbreak of the war in Ukraine disrupted the supply of equipment and materials. At the same time, this is one of the most technically complex projects in the company’s history, as most of the work has been carried out without interrupting intensive train traffic. However, consistent planning and close cooperation between the team and our partners have enabled us to successfully move the project towards completion,” says Žalimas.

Changing national security requirements also required additional solutions. Restrictions were imposed on some previously planned equipment, forcing contractors to seek alternative technological solutions and Western suppliers.

Technological adjustments also played a role. The traction substation technology was changed, allowing infrastructure optimisation and reducing the number of substations required. Although this necessitated additional design work and modifications, the decision is expected to improve the system’s operational efficiency in the long term.

Benefits for passengers, businesses and the environment

The electrification of the entire route will enable broader use of electric traction for both passenger and freight services, increasing the attractiveness of rail transport for passengers and operators alike.

The Vilnius–Klaipėda railway line forms part of Transport Corridor IXB and carries approximately 40% of all rail passengers travelling in Lithuania. As a result, the benefits of modernising and electrifying this corridor will be significant for a large share of the country’s rail users.

Lower energy and rolling stock maintenance costs are expected to generate potential savings of around EUR 505 million for railway operators using Lithuania’s rail network. The project is projected to pay for itself within 19 years. Over its lifetime, the total socio-economic benefit is expected to exceed EUR 700 million.

The project will also make a substantial contribution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Wider use of electric passenger and freight trains is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 150,000 tonnes per year.

It is also expected that a portion of passenger and freight traffic will shift from roads to rail. Forecasts indicate this could reduce road traffic by around 3,600 cars and 18,000 heavy goods vehicles, contributing to reduced congestion, improved road safety and fewer accidents.

An important step towards the European Green Deal

The electrification of the Vilnius–Klaipėda section represents an important part of Lithuania’s contribution to the objectives of the European Green Deal. Electrified railways enable the use of electric trains, which are widely regarded as one of the most sustainable alternatives to diesel-powered transport. For this reason, railway electrification has long been one of the key priorities of European transport policy.

The European Union’s White Paper on Transport sets a target of shifting at least 30% of road freight transported over distances greater than 300 kilometres to rail or waterborne transport by 2030. By 2050, this share should exceed 50%.

According to Rumskas, the electrification of the Vilnius–Klaipėda corridor is an important step towards ensuring Lithuanian railways meet the transport standards of the future.

“Today, electrified railways are no longer a choice but a necessity for a competitive and sustainable transport system. By completing the electrification of the country’s main railway artery, we are strengthening Lithuania’s position within the European transport network and creating conditions to move more passengers and freight onto one of the most sustainable modes of transport: rail. It is a long-term investment in cleaner, more efficient and safer mobility for future generations,” says Rumskas.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – In August, almost a third more natural gas was delivered to Lithuanian consumers than a year earlier. At the same time, international gas flows were lower due to system maintenance work carried out in Latvia. This work is necessary in preparation for the upcoming heating season and to ensure a reliable gas supply during winter, reports Amber Grid, the operator of the Lithuanian natural gas transmission system.

Domestic gas consumption in August amounted to 954 GWh – 32% more than in the same period last year, when consumption stood at 722 GWh. This higher demand compared to the previous year was driven by a more active industrial sector.

Due to system maintenance work carried out in Latvia, the capacity of the Kiemėnai interconnection point was restricted in August. Only 31 GWh of natural gas was transmitted from Lithuania to Latvia, compared with 1.9 TWh in August last year.

Meanwhile, 127 GWh of natural gas was transmitted to Poland via the Santaka interconnection in August – around 40 times more than in August last year, when only 3 GWh was transmitted. No natural gas was transmitted from Latvia or Poland to Lithuania in the final month of summer.

"System maintenance work is a necessary part of preparing for the upcoming winter season – it is carried out to ensure that the gas transmission system is reliable and ready to meet higher gas demand. Although international gas flows were temporarily restricted due to this work, Lithuania's gas system remains flexible – gas can be supplied to the country via different routes, and the well-developed infrastructure allows us to respond quickly to market needs and ensure a reliable supply for consumers," says Amber Grid CEO Nemunas Biknius.

In August, 95% of the gas volume was injected via the Klaipėda LNG terminal. Around 1.06 TWh of natural gas entered the system from the terminal – 59% less than in August last year, when this volume reached 2.57 TWh. The lower volume of gas injected from the terminal was also driven by the restricted gas transportation via the Kiemėnai interconnection.

The volume of biomethane injected into the system also continued to grow. In August, 55 GWh of biomethane was injected – almost double the amount from the same period last year, when volumes stood at 30 GWh.

Vilnius, September 10 (ELTA) – On Thursday, 10 September, the Seimas, the Parliament of Lithuania, opened its autumn session. The first sitting was dedicated to discussing the upcoming agenda.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas presented the draft of the agenda, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius presented draft laws submitted by the Government, while chairs of political groups reviewed the legislation which they plan to table.

Parliament intends to consider more than 550 draft laws in the autumn session. 127 of them would be submitted by the Government, 10 by President Gitanas Nausėda and more than 330 by MPs or political groups.

Legislators approved the draft agenda unanimously in the first reading. Now the document will be considered by all political groups before another reading planned for 22 September.

From 10 September to 23 December, parliament plans to hold 46 sittings, including 3 dedicated to the agenda of the opposition.