Breaking - Pipeline Leak Suspicions Grow
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Suspicions of sabotage are growing in the leak that shut down the Balticconnector pipeline and damaged an adjacent communications cable early Sunday morning. Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö posted a statement on his Twitter account saying the pipeline damage is likely “the result of external activity.”
“The damage to the underwater infrastructure has been taken seriously and its causes have been investigated since Sunday. The Government has been closely informed about the situation. It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipe and the communication cable is the result of external activity. The cause of the damage is not yet clear, the investigation continues as a cooperation between Finland and Estonia. We are also constantly in touch with our Littolais and partners. I had a conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today. NATO is ready to assist in investigations. Finland is prepared and our preparedness is good. Those events have no effect on our reliability of service.”
For this part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance “stands ready.”
“Spoke with President Sauli Niinisto on damage to undersea infrastructure between Estonia and Finland. NATO is sharing information and stands ready to support our allies concerned.”
Finnish state broadcaster Yle is citing sources as it reports that the pipeline leak “does not appear to be an accident.”
Finnish tabloid Iltalehti cites foreign affairs and security policy sources is reporting that the Finnish government and the Defense Forces both suspect Russia of sabotaging the pipeline. However, seismologists in both Finland and Estonia have not detected any seismic activity that would result from an explosion in the area.
At a Tuesday night press conference Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was asked if Russia is suspected to have sabotaged the pipeline.
“That is a serious question. Then this should be investigated properly and we should not rush to conclusions. The important thing is that the matter is thoroughly investigated.”
He then deferred to the National Bureau of Investigation.
Criminal inspector Timo Kilpeläinen said in response that carrying something like this out requires certain skills and equipment.
“It's not quite the act of an ordinary person. I'm not going to comment any further.”
It is all hands on deck with the pipeline investigation. Besides the pipeline operator the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO), the Finnish Border Guard, and possibly Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are all scrutinizing the pipeline leak.
And to add to the crowd the Central Criminal Police are also on the case.
Chief Criminal Inspector Timo Kilpeläinen spoke to Yle to say they are investigating the pipeline damage as aggravating vandalism, a charge that stems from the suspicion the pipeline damage was caused by an outside operator.
“The damage has been of such a quality that it could not have occurred by accident. The size class is such that it is a deliberate act.”
It appears the pipeline was damaged in Finnish waters but the damaged area of the adjacent communications cable is in Estonian waters and the investigation into the data cable will be done by authorities from Estonia.
Fears of sabotage have caused gas prices to surge upward. The European natural gas benchmark TTF is heading toward its highest closing in about 6 months.
Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina says her country is standing by and ready to help.
“We are in close cooperation with our colleagues in Estonia and Finland and ready to assist when necessary. The Incukaln’s gas storage is almost full (21.5 TWh) and ready to ensure security of supply for our Baltic region.”
On Tuesday, pipeline operator Gasgrid said that the pipeline inspection to find the leak and assess the damage has now begun.
“If it appears that the unusual drop in pressure in the Balticconnector pipeline observed in the morning of October 8 is caused by a leak caused by suspected damage, based on the measurements made now, repair plans for the pipeline can be made and the schedule for the repair work can be defined. Gasgrid Finland has assessed the extent of the gas leak released in the supposed event. Once the results are confirmed, they are reported to the environmental authorities in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act.”
It says the amount of damage will dictate how long repairs will take and how long the pipeline will remain out of action. Gasgrid is estimating the pipeline might remain shutdown for several months.
The Balticconnector gas pipeline is only a few years old as it began operations in 2020. It runs between Finland and Estonia.
The damage to the Balticconnector pipeline comes just over a year after saboteurs blew up the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic. Numerous investigations continue intothe Nord Stream pipelines explosions.