The developments surrounding the damage to the natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia are increasingly bringing back memories of the blowing up of the Nord Stream pipeline. According to Estonian researchers, there was serious violence, so probably a new attack on energy supplies.
“It is clear to see that this damage was caused by a fairly strong military force,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said on Wednesday. “So we still have to specify what exactly it is, but at this point it looks more like mechanical impact or mechanical destruction.”
NATO is threatening a decisive response
Finnish Prime Minister Sauli Niinistö had already spoken about targeted action on Tuesday. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg threatened a decisive response from the defense alliance.
“If it turns out to be an attack on critical NATO infrastructure, NATO will stand together and respond decisively,” he said at a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers.
Repairs will likely take months
The 77 kilometer long Balticconnector pipeline connects Inkoo in Finland and Paldiski in Estonia. It runs through the Gulf of Finland, a part of the Baltic Sea that extends into Russian territorial waters. The operator registered a sudden drop in pressure at 2 a.m. (local time; 1 a.m. CEST) on Sunday and closed the line.
Finnish energy company Gasgrid has since said it could take months to repair the damage. According to the responsible operators, the demand for natural gas in both states, even in winter, can be met from other sources.
Source: Krone
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