STOCKHOLM/COPENHAGEN Europe was looking into Tuesday’s what Germany, Denmark, and Sweden declared were terrorist attacks that resulted in major leaks into the Baltic Sea from two Russian gas pipelines at the heart of an energy dispute.
It was still not known who could be responsible for the leaks the first to be reported. Nor was it clear if there was any possible foul play, if confirmed, regarding the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia and European partners have spent billions of dollars to construct.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck told business leaders that targeted attacks on infrastructure caused the leaks and that Berlin was now certain “they were not caused by natural occurrences or events or material fatigue.”
Sweden and Denmark’s premier ministers have said that the leaks resulted from deliberate actions, with evidence suggesting possibly the sabotage of Poland’s prime minister. At the same time, Denmark’s blamed sabotage but did not provide the evidence.
Russia has cut down on the flow of gas to Europe following the West-issued sanctions against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as said that there was a chance of sabotage and that leaks could undermine the security of Europe’s energy supply.
A top Ukrainian official claimed the incident resulted from a Russian attempt to undermine Europe without proof.
“We see clearly that it’s an act of sabotage, related to the next step of escalation of the situation in Ukraine,” Polish Premier Mateusz Morawiecki said at the beginning of a new pipeline connecting Norway with Poland.
Sweden’s prime minister Magdalena Andersson told a news conference that two blasts were identified in connection with leaks. She said that although this was not an attack against Sweden, the government was in close communication with its partners like NATO and neighbors like Denmark and Germany regarding the latest developments.
Seismologists from Denmark and Sweden reported that they registered two blasts of force on Monday in the vicinity of the leaks.
“The signals don’t resemble earthquake signals. They look like the signals typically captured by blasts,” according to the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) declared.
Seismologists from the Swedish Uppsala University, which cooperates with GEUS, said The second, larger blast “corresponded to more than 100 kilos (kg) of dynamite” and added that the blasts were located in the water, not on the seabed.
The Nord Stream pipelines have been sources of tension in the escalating energy conflict between the capitals of Europe and Moscow that has hurt important Western economies, sent gas prices skyrocketing, and led to a search for alternatives to the gas supply.
“Germany is a nation that can protect itself. It is also a country that knows how to defend itself. Europe is an area that can protect the energy system,” Germany’s Habeck said in a statement, noting that Europe’s biggest economic power was unaffected.
Denmark’s army said that the biggest gas leak had caused a surface disruption of one kilometer.
“Risk of explosions”
The leaks were massive. They could require up to an entire week to stop flowing out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the Danish head of the Energy Agency, Kristoffer Bottzauw, said. Ships may lose buoyancy when they enter the region.
“The sea surface is full of methane, which means there is an increased risk of explosions in the area,” Bottzauw stated.
The Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) confirmed two leaks on Nord Stream 1, one within the Swedish economic zone and one within the Danish zone, located in the northeast of Denmark’s Bornholm.
“We are keeping extra watch to ensure no ship comes too close to the site,” an SMA spokesperson said.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called it “very alarming news. We’re discussing some damages of an uncertain character to the pipeline located in Danmark’s economic zone.” Peskov said that it harmed the continent’s energy security.
The pipelines were not transporting gas into Europe when the leaks were discovered, but these leaks could thwart any hope that Europe might receive fuel through Nord Stream 1 before winter. The operator of Nord Stream said the damage was “unprecedented.”
Gazprom, the company, controlled by the Kremlin with a monopoly over Russian gas exports via pipeline, did not make any comments.
“There are some indications that it is deliberate damage,” stated a European security source, who added that it was for a conclusion to be drawn. “You have to ask: Who would profit?”
Norway, in turn, is expected to increase security at its gas and oil installations following the leaks, as well as news of drones operating throughout the North Sea, Energy Minister Terje Aasland stated in an announcement.
Authorities in Denmark have asked to know if the preparedness level for its gas and power sector is to be increased, which will require increased safety for facilities and power plants.
Cutting materials
Russia cut gas supply to Europe through Nord Stream 1 before suspending the flow completely in August and blamed Western sanctions causing technical problems. European political leaders say it was a reason to cut off the gas supply.
The brand-new Nord Stream 2 pipeline was yet to be able to begin commercial operations. The idea of using the pipeline to deliver gas was canceled by Germany just days before Russia sent soldiers into Ukraine for what Moscow describes as”a “special military operation” in February.
“The multiple undersea leaks mean neither pipeline will likely deliver any gas to the EU over the coming winter, irrespective of political developments in the Ukraine war,” Eurasia Group said.
European gas prices increased in response to news reports. The benchmark month’s October Dutch price increased by almost 10 percent on Tuesday. Prices are lower than this year’s highs, but they are at least 200% more than the prices in early September 2021.
