On Sunday, Finland announced that its Baltic-connector gas pipeline with Estonia had been damaged and that the incident may have been deliberate, caused by external activity. The pipeline, which provides Finland with its only direct link to the wider European Union’s gas network, was shut down due to a sudden drop in pressure. Additionally, a telecoms cable was also damaged. Finland’s prime minister has stated that the source of the leak has been identified and is currently being investigated by both countries. While the cause is yet to be determined, Finnish sources suspect Russian sabotage as retaliation for Finland joining NATO in April of this year. The suspicion of sabotage was further fueled by a “probable explosion” detected by Norway’s seismological institute along Finland’s Baltic Sea coast. The event, however, was not as severe as the explosions that targeted the Nord Stream pipelines in September last year. Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation has stated that there were no indications of explosives being used in the incident, although the damage is extensive and is expected to take months to repair. The damage to the pipeline and cable occurred at different spots in Finland’s Exclusive Economic Zone, ruling out normal use or pressure fluctuations as causes. The Finnish authorities have already ruled out other possible causes such as seismic activity. Despite the disruption and potential motives behind the incident, Finland assures that its energy security is not at risk as there are alternative sources of gas available. Jens Stoltenberg, the head of NATO, has expressed support and readiness to assist Finland and Estonia, both NATO members, in dealing with the situation. While public statements from Finland have been careful not to directly blame Russia, the possibility of deliberate sabotage has already led to an increase in European gas prices. Furthermore, concerns over energy security have been reignited following the blasts on the Nord Stream pipeline in the previous year. The Baltic-connector pipeline, opened in 2020, is crucial for gas transmission between Estonia and Finland, depending on the countries’ needs. Since Russia halted its gas supplies to Finland last year, this pipeline remains Finland’s sole natural gas import channel. Natural gas accounts for about 5% of Finland’s energy consumption. With the rising tensions and potential risks of leaking Russian gas pipelines, it is crucial for the international community to assess and address the implications of this incident thoroughly.
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