Mažeika: national emergency would shield suppliers from storm penalties

A national emergency declaration after last weekend’s storm would help suppliers that failed to meet commitments because of power outages avoid penalties, Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Mažeika told LRT Radio.

Mažeika said the measure would also allow Lithuania to apply to the European Commission to activate an assistance fund and invoke force majeure for farms unable to fulfil signed contracts.

“This would make it easier to prove that they cannot meet their obligations,” the minister said.

He added that the exemption could also apply to companies supplying retail chains if power outages prevented them from producing and delivering goods as agreed. Such companies would not face penalties within the supply chain, he said.

Following the storm, emergency situations have so far been declared in the Biržai, Telšiai and Anykščiai districts.

Dozens of thousands of customers of ESO, the electricity distribution operator, were still without power on Wednesday, according to LRT. Residents will receive compensation. Mobile communications were also disrupted, although operators said most of the network had been restored.

The storm on Saturday brought down trees in many parts of Lithuania, killing one person and injuring four others. Electricity supplies were disrupted for more than 268,000 users.