According to the Swedish public prosecutor, the suspicion of serious sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines 1 and 2 has been confirmed. It can now be confirmed that there have been explosions in Swedish waters that have caused significant damage to the pipelines, the law enforcement agency and the Swedish Security Service said in Stockholm on Thursday.
A total of four leaks in the two pipelines – two in Swedish waters, two in Danish waters – had leaked large amounts of gas continuously for days.
The Swedish authorities speak of a very “serious incident”. Developments will be closely monitored and every effort will be made to ensure the safety of Sweden.
“Explosive charge of several 100 kilograms”
A number of states had already assumed that the pipelines had been sabotaged. Seismological institutes in Scandinavia had measured strengths of 2.3 and 2.1, which the organizations say “probably corresponds to an explosive charge of several 100 kilograms”.
Parts are currently under investigation
During the investigations at the crime scene, parts were seized that are now being investigated further, the public prosecutor announced. It remains to be seen whether there will be a prosecution. The barriers around the leaks have since been lifted. For days, an area of five nautical miles (almost nine kilometers) was cordoned off for research into shipping and other activities.
Experts assume 70,000 tons of methane
French researchers estimate the amount of methane leaking from Nord Stream Pipelines 1 and 2 leaks to be lower than previous assumptions. The Agency for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies CEA estimates that approximately 70,000 tons of methane escaped. The German Federal Environment Agency had previously estimated the amount of emissions at 300,000 tons. However, the estimates were based on different bases, said CEA researcher Antoine Berchet of the Public Prosecution Service in Paris on Thursday. “In our model, it’s just the view from the atmosphere. In the other estimate, it’s the other way around. This is an estimate of the pipeline volume combined with the assumption that everything will leak.”
The fact that the researchers in France came up with lower emissions when evaluating the data from a model for the transport of substances in the atmosphere, according to Berchet, could be related to the fact that methane only escaped in one part of the atmosphere. pipeline and not over the full length of the pipes. The estimate is reliable. The model is especially good at evaluating the first 48 hours. The results of the researchers now have to be compared with other estimates and other models.
‘Global influence is relatively marginal’
A total of four underwater leaks were found in the Nord Stream pipes last week and huge amounts of gas escaped for days. The EU and NATO assume sabotage. Berchet considers the climate impact of the methane emissions to be quite small. “The release of methane has a very local warming effect, albeit very small. Globally, the impact is relatively marginal.” The Federal Environment Agency, on the other hand, warned that the leaks would cause significant climate damage.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
