- An EU diplomat believes sabotage likely caused leaks
- The Danish Defense Minister is concerned about the security of the Baltic Sea
- The Danish Defense Minister met the head of NATO in Brussels
BERLIN/COPENHAGEN, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Any deliberate disruption of the EU’s energy infrastructure would have a “strong and united response”, its top diplomat said, after several states said two Russian oil pipelines to Europe have been releasing gas into the Baltic. had been attacked.
It was unclear who might be behind the leaks or any foul play, if proven, in the Nord Stream gas pipelines that Russia and European partners spent billions of dollars building.
Russia, which cut gas supplies to Europe after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, has also said sabotage was a possibility and that the leaks undermined the continent’s energy security.
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The European Union believes that sabotage probably caused the leaks detected in the Nord Stream gas pipelines on Monday, Josep Borrell told the German channel ntv, echoing the views issued by Germany, Denmark and Sweden on Tuesday. The EU has not named any potential perpetrators or suggested a motive behind it.
“Any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is completely unacceptable and will receive a strong and united response,” Borrell said, according to ntv.
Denmark’s defense minister, meanwhile, said on Wednesday there were reasons to be concerned about the security situation in the Baltic Sea region after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg , in Brussels.
“Russia has a significant military presence in the Baltic Sea region and we expect them to continue their sabres,” Morten Bodskov said in a statement.
In a sign of how long it could take to determine the full extent of the damage and the cause of the leaks, Bodskov also said it could be a week or maybe two before the areas around the damaged pipes are calm enough. those to be investigated.
Sweden’s public prosecutor’s office said it will review material from a police investigation into pipeline damage and decide on further action.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told a press conference on Tuesday that two explosions had been detected in connection with the leaks. Although this did not represent an attack on Sweden, Stockholm was in close contact with partners such as NATO and neighbors such as Denmark and Germany.
Seismologists in Denmark and Sweden said they had recorded two powerful explosions on Monday in the vicinity of the leaks and that the explosions were in the water, not under the seabed.
Nord Stream pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between European capitals and Moscow that has damaged major Western economies, sent gas prices soaring and prompted a search for alternative supplies.
Gas bubbles from Nord Stream 2 reaching the surface of the Baltic Sea in the area show disturbances more than a kilometer in diameter near Bornholm, Denmark, on September 27, 2022. Danish Defense Command/Bulletin via REUTERS
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Denmark’s armed forces said the largest gas leak had caused a surface disturbance more than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) in diameter, while agencies issued warnings to shipping to avoid the area .
Norway has said it will beef up security at its oil and gas facilities in the wake of leaks and reports of drone activity in the North Sea, and Danish authorities have called for the sector’s level of preparedness to be increased of energy and gas.
European leaders and Moscow say they cannot rule out sabotage. Map of Nord Stream pipelines and locations of reported leaks
GAS FLOWS
Operator Nord Stream has called the damage “unprecedented,” while Gazprom ( GAZP.MM ), the Russian-controlled company with a monopoly on its pipeline gas exports, declined to comment.
Neither pipeline was pumping gas at the time the leaks were found, but the incidents dash any remaining expectations that Europe could receive fuel via Nord Stream 1 before winter, while there are also concerns about the gas through Ukraine.
“One development that could have a more immediate impact on gas supplies in Europe was a warning from Gazprom that Russia could impose sanctions on Ukraine’s Naftogaz due to the ongoing arbitration,” ING analysts said Research.
The chief executive of Naftogaz said on Wednesday that the Ukrainian energy firm will continue with arbitration proceedings against Gazprom over Russian natural gas transiting the country.
Gazprom said earlier this week that while it rejects all of Naftogaz’s claims in arbitration, it may introduce sanctions against the company if it pursues the case.
“The risk is that these flows come to a complete halt, which will only further tighten the European market as we head into the heating season,” ING analysts added.
European gas prices rose after news of the leaks. The Dutch benchmark price for October rose 11% to 204.50 euros/megawatt hour on Wednesday. While prices are still below this year’s highs, they remain more than 200% higher than at the start of September 2021.
Russia cut gas supplies to Europe through Nord Stream 1 before suspending flows altogether in August, blaming Western sanctions for causing technical difficulties. European politicians say it was a pretext to stop supplying gas.
The new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline had yet to enter commercial operations. The plan to use it to supply gas was scrapped by Germany days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine, in what Moscow calls a “special military operation”, in February.
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Reuters bureau reports; Written by Alexander Smith; Edited by Louise Heavens
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