Another gas pipeline damaged by deliberate action? NATO ready to assist in investigation

On October 10, Reuters news agency reported that Finland announced an investigation into the leak from the Balticconnector gas pipeline based on suspicions that the pipeline was deliberately sabotaged.

A compressor station of the Balticconnector gas pipeline in Inga (Inkoo), Finland. (Source: Getty Images)

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the damage to pipelines and telecommunications cables was intentional.

“It is possible that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable was caused by external activity. The cause is not yet clear, and the investigation is continuing with cooperation between Finland and Estonia,” Niinisto said.

Finland's energy supply remains stable, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, but leaks from pipelines are "worrying" and the damage to telecommunications cables does not affect the country's connectivity.

“It is too early to draw conclusions about who or what caused the damage,” Mr. Orpo said.

Earlier, on the morning of October 8, the Balticconnector pipeline was shut down due to a suspected leak.

Commenting on this issue, Mr. Janne Gronlund, Senior Executive Director of Finnish state energy company Gasgrid, said that the pipeline could be suspended until the end of the upcoming winter.

In operation since 2019, the 77-km pipeline is used to transport gas from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Finland to Estonia, with an annual capacity of 2.6 billion cubic metres.

Yle News reported that President Niinisto revealed that Helsinki is in regular contact with allies and partners.

The Finnish head of state told reporters: “Today I had a conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. NATO is ready to assist in the investigation.”

Source