HELSINKI/ Brussels: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has declared that NATO will address the damage to a gas pipeline and data cable connecting Finland and Estonia. A resolute response is promised should deliberate sabotage be proven.
The damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable was confirmed after Finland’s Gasgrid, one of the pipeline operators, noticed a drop in pressure and a possible leak during a storm. Finland, currently leading the investigation, suspects “outside activity” as the likely cause.
Helsinki’s assertion of probable external interference has raised concerns about regional energy security and contributed to increased gas prices.
NATO aims to determine the cause of the damage, emphasizing the seriousness of a deliberate attack on critical infrastructure. The investigation is ongoing.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation discovered “external marks” on the seabed near the damaged pipeline. A technical investigation of the damage site is underway, along with a review of vessel movements during the incident.
#NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg says the alliance will mount a “determined” response if it is proven that the damage to a gas pipeline and data cable running between member states #Finland and #Estonia was deliberate https://t.co/NDWzc7QqrN pic.twitter.com/a9wvc4EwDM
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 12, 2023
The Balticconnector pipeline runs from Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia, crossing the Gulf of Finland and connecting to the Baltic Sea. NATO defense ministers will address the issue during meetings in Brussels. The vulnerability of critical infrastructure is acknowledged, necessitating enhanced protection measures.
Balticconnector is jointly operated by Estonian electricity and gas system operator Elering and Finnish gas transmission system operator Gasgrid. They estimate that repair planning and execution will take at least five months, with gas transfers expected to resume no earlier than April.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has expressed concern, referencing a similar attack on Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. Those larger gas pipelines were damaged by explosive sabotage.
The central concern is how NATO would respond if a state actor is found responsible for the damage. The need for clear countermeasures and deterrence strategies is a pivotal question for the alliance.
President Sauli Niinisto and other officials were briefed on the situation, leading to heightened preparedness at critical infrastructure facilities. Norway and Lithuania have also reinforced security at onshore energy installations.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has noted that the damage appears to be the result of significant external force, including possible mechanical impact or destruction. The pipeline and telecoms cable, although running in parallel, were damaged within the same time frame. The pipeline, encased in concrete for protection, appears to have been damaged on one side.
The damage is not anticipated to affect Finland’s electricity system, as confirmed by grid operator Fingrid. Gas constitutes 5 percent of Finland’s energy requirements.
The Balticconnector pipeline, which commenced operations in December 2019, was intended to enhance gas market integration in the region, providing greater supply flexibility to Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
