Presenting RENEWAT at the Ministry of Environment, Lithuania

On September 13, VMU held a Webinar with Jonė Leščinskaitė - advisor at the strategic change group in the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania. 

The event focused on the RENEWAT project and its aim of exploring opportunities for repowering old water mills in Lithuania as part of the country’s renewable energy development strategy.

Jonė is a key advisor to the Ministry of Environment for the Dam Removal Europe movement. Efficient coordination is essential for the successful implementation of the project. During the webinar, partners from Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) introduced the RENEWAT project, outlining its main objectives and discussing prospects for its implementation at the legislative level.

The Key topics discussed included:

1. Introduction to the RENEWAT Project: presentation of the project’s main goals, expertises and strategy.

2. Dam Removal Europe in Lithuania: discussion on the managing of the Dam Removal Europe movement in Lithuania. Highlighting work groups and policy-making, as well as completed, ongoing, and future projects. 

3. Political awareness and opinions towards hydropower development: discussion on future strategies of the renewable energy development in Lithuania. Attitudes of the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Agriculture towards dams and watermills

4. Decision-making and authorisation process for hydropower development: discussion on the prospects for the repowering old water-mills in Lithuania - examples of successes and the possibility of future implementation on the low-priority rivers for dam removal.