Chris Lange, FISM News
European countries on Tuesday scrambled to investigate mysterious leaks in two gas pipelines from Russia to Denmark and Sweden at the center of an energy crisis that has emerged from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Swedish and Danish authorities separately reported leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines that run under the Baltic Sea. The Nord Stream 2 leak forced Denmark to restrict shipping in the area.
Reuters reported that, while neither pipeline was pumping gas to Europe at the time the leaks were discovered, both still contained gas under pressure.
Russia’s state-run Gazprom energy company halted the flow of gas supplies to Europe last month, claiming that Western-imposed sanctions had caused technical problems. European leaders have dismissed the claim as a pretext to cut off gas supplies.
A Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) spokesperson said that the cause of the leaks was not immediately clear.
“We are keeping extra watch to make sure no ship comes too close to the site,” a second SMA spokesperson said.
The leaks prompted Danish authorities to call for an increased level of preparedness by the country’s power and gas sector ahead of the approaching winter months.
“Breaches of gas pipelines happen extremely rarely … We want to ensure thorough monitoring of Denmark’s critical infrastructure in order to strengthen security of supply in the future,” said the head of the Danish energy agency, Kristoffer Bottzauw.
Interestingly, President Joe Biden threatened in February to “bring an end to” the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine.
“I promise you we will be able to do it,” Biden responded when a reporter asked how the U.S. could put a stop to the pipeline, which was under German control.
Pres. Biden: "If Russia invades…then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."
Reporter: "But how will you do that, exactly, since…the project is in Germany's control?"
Biden: "I promise you, we will be able to do that." https://t.co/uruQ4F4zM9 pic.twitter.com/4ksDaaU0YC
— ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2022
‘Risk of explosions’
The leaks were very large and it could take perhaps a week for gas to stop draining out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the head of Denmark’s Energy Agency Kristoffer Bottzauw said.
Ships could lose buoyancy if they entered the area.
“The sea surface is full of methane, which means there is an increased risk of explosions in the area,” Bottzauw said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said sabotage could not be ruled out. “We are talking about three leaks with some distance between them, and that’s why it is hard to imagine that it is a coincidence,” she said.
The Danish military published footage from the site of the leak on Nord Stream. pic.twitter.com/OgoXeWPDSF
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 27, 2022
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called it “very concerning news. Indeed, we are talking about some damage of an unclear nature to the pipeline in Denmark’s economic zone.” He said it affected the continent’s energy security.
Neither pipeline was pumping gas to Europe at the time the leaks were found amid the dispute over the war in Ukraine, but the incidents will scupper any remaining expectations that Europe could receive gas via Nord Stream 1 before winter.
Operator Nord Stream said the damage was “unprecedented”.
Both pipelines contained gas although they were not in operation.
Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled company with a monopoly on Russian gas exports by pipeline, declined to comment.
“There are some indications that it is deliberate damage,” said a European security source, while adding it was still too early to draw conclusions. “You have to ask: Who would profit?”
Cutting supplies
Russia reduced gas supplies to Europe via Nord Stream 1 before suspending flows altogether in August, blaming Western sanctions for causing technical difficulties. European politicians say that was a pretext to stop supplying gas.
The new Nord Stream 2 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 February.
“The multiple undersea leaks mean neither pipeline will likely deliver any gas to the EU over the coming winter, irrespective of political developments in the Ukraine war,” Eurasia Group wrote.
European gas prices rose on the news. The benchmark October Dutch price climbed almost 10% on Tuesday. Prices are still below this year’s stratospheric peaks but remain more than 200% higher than in early September 2021.
The leaks happened before Tuesday’s ceremonial launch of the Baltic Pipe carrying gas from Norway to Poland. A centerpiece of Warsaw’s efforts to diversify from Russian supplies, it crosses the Nord Stream infrastructure.
Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) urged oil companies on Monday to be vigilant about unidentified drones seen flying near Norwegian offshore oil and gas platforms, warning of possible attacks.
The Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) said two leaks on Nord Stream 1 — one in the Swedish economic zone and another in the Danish zone – were northeast of the Danish island Bornholm.
“We are keeping extra watch to make sure no ship comes too close to the site,” an SMA spokesperson said.
The Danish authorities asked that the level of preparedness in Denmark’s power and gas sector be raised after the leaks, a step that would require heightened safety procedures for power installations and facilities.
Additions and edits by Jacob Fuller. Subsections of this story: Copyright 2022 Thomson/Reuters