Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 started leaking gas into the Baltic Sea. It is not clear whether this unprecedented event is a malfunction or a man-made sabotage.
Early this morning, several leaks were found in both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the two gas pipelines that connect Russia’s reserves with Central Europe. The leaks happened in the exclusive economic zone of Sweden and Denmark, deep below the Baltic Sea. So far, no leak has been discovered in the waters of Finland.
The two pipelines are a crucial factor in the economic war between the European Union and Russia. Originally agreed upon by German and Russian governments, they represent the symbol of European energetic dependence to Moscow. With the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Russia, gas stopped flowing in the two pipelines. To be precise, Nord Stream 2 was still under completion when the war started, and its construction was halted.
Despite the gas having stopped flowing through the pipelines, they were still filled under pressure. Therefore the leaks pose a serious environmental threat, other than a dangerous safety risk. The gas is highly explosive, and any ignition could set the sea on fire.
Sweden and Denmark’s authorities promptly created an exclusion zone around the leaks, measuring 5 nautical miles. Given the unprecedented nature of the event, nobody can say with certainty when the leaks will be fixed or when the exclusion zone can be lifted.
Accident or sabotage?
In the wake of the leaks, many are left wondering whether this is a natural or artificial event. The leaks took place in several places along the two pipelines, something that, as we said, has never happened once before. Russian government spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said that it is too early to talk about a sabotage, fueling even more German suspects.
The timing of the leaks also raises European eyebrows. Last Tuesday, a new gas pipeline through the Baltic was inaugurated, one that connects Norway’s reserves with Poland. This is part of the diversification strategy many European countries are taking, trying to strive away from Russian hydrocarbures.
“It seems extremely improbable that the leaks on two different pipelines happen at the same time, therefore I think we should assume that it was intentional to create these leaks.” said polish energy analyst Mate usz Kubiak.
It is still unclear, however, how anybody would benefit from this. The two pipelines were not operational anymore, and Europe was already bracing herself for a cold winter without Russian gas. Accidental or not, these leaks could very well be another step towards complete European independence from Russian gas and oil.
