EU vows to protect energy systems after ‘sabotage’ on Russian gas pipelines

BERLIN/COPENHAGEN, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Any intentional disruption to EU energy networks would meet a “robust and united response”, its high diplomat stated, after a number of states stated two Russian pipelines to Europe had been attacked, inflicting gas to spew into the Baltic Sea.

It remained removed from clear who is perhaps behind the leaks or any foul play, if confirmed, on the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia and European companions spent billions of {dollars} constructing.

Russia, which slashed gas deliveries to Europe after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, has additionally stated sabotage was a risk.

The European Union believes sabotage most likely prompted the leaks detected on Monday, Josep Borrell stated, echoing views aired by Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

The EU has not named a possible perpetrator or instructed a cause for the suspected sabotage.

“Any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response,” Borrell stated.

An announcement issued by Russia’s embassy in Denmark stated that any sabotage on Nord Stream’s pipelines was an assault on each Russia’s and Europe’s energy safety.

“The unsubstantiated accusations and assumptions that are now being made everywhere are intended to create information noise and prevent an objective and impartial investigation,” the Russian assertion stated.

The Nord Stream pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy warfare between capitals in Europe and Moscow that has broken main Western economies, despatched gas costs hovering and sparked a hunt for various provides.

SECURITY ALERT

Denmark’s defence minister stated after a gathering with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg that there was cause to be involved concerning the safety scenario within the area.

“Russia has a significant military presence in the Baltic Sea region and we expect them to continue their sabre-rattling,” Morten Bodskov stated in an announcement.

Norwegian police stated on Wednesday they’ve strengthened safety across the nation’s oil and gas installations, whereas Danish authorities have requested that the extent of preparedness within the nation’s energy and gas sector be raised.

In the Baltic Sea, the quantity of gas effervescent from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was unchanged on Wednesday from the day past, the Swedish Coast Guard stated in an e-mail to Reuters.

Denmark’s Bodskov stated it would take per week or two earlier than the areas across the leaks had been calm sufficient to be investigated, whereas there have been differing views over potential repairs.

“There are good teams in place to handle pipeline accidents, there are emergency pipe inventories and experts for onshore and offshore,” Jens Schumann, managing director of gas pipeline grid firm Gasunie Deutschland, stated.

“That makes me relatively optimistic that even a ruction like the one we saw there can be repaired,” he added.

But German safety companies worry that Nord Stream 1 will develop into unusable if massive volumes of salt water circulate into the pipes and trigger corrosion, German newspaper Tagesspiegel reported, citing authorities sources.

The Danish armed forces stated the most important gas leak prompted a floor disturbance of greater than 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) in diameter, as companies issued warnings to delivery.

Sweden’s Prosecution Authority stated it would evaluation materials from a police investigation and resolve on additional motion, after Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson stated on Tuesday that two blasts had been detected.

Although this didn’t symbolize an assault on Sweden, Stockholm was in shut contact with companions comparable to NATO and neighbours comparable to Denmark and Germany, Andersson stated.

Seismologists in Denmark and Sweden stated that they had registered two highly effective blasts on Monday within the neighborhood of the leaks and the explosions had been within the water, not below the seabed.

GAS FLOWS

Operator Nord Stream has referred to as the harm “unprecedented”, whereas Gazprom (GAZP.MM), the Russian-controlled firm with a monopoly on its gas exports by pipeline, declined to remark.

Neither pipeline was pumping gas on the time the leaks had been discovered, however the incidents scupper any remaining expectations that Europe might obtain gasoline by way of Nord Stream 1 earlier than winter, whereas there are additionally issues about gas piped by way of Ukraine.

“A development that could have a more immediate impact on gas supplies to Europe was a warning from Gazprom that Russia could impose sanctions on Ukraine’s Naftogaz due to ongoing arbitration,” analysts at ING Research stated.

Naftogaz’s CEO stated on Wednesday the Ukrainian energy agency will proceed with arbitration proceedings towards Gazprom over Russian pure gas which transits the nation.

Gazprom stated earlier within the week that whereas rejecting all Naftogaz’s claims in arbitration, it might introduce sanctions towards the corporate in case it presses forward with the case.

“The risk is that these flows come to a complete halt, which will only tighten up the European market further as we move towards the heating season,” the ING analysts added.

European gas costs rose following information of the leaks. The benchmark October Dutch value was up by 11% at 204.50 euros/megawatt hour on Wednesday. Although costs are nonetheless beneath this yr’s peaks, they continue to be greater than 200% increased than in early September 2021.

Russia diminished gas provides to Europe by way of Nord Stream 1 earlier than suspending flows altogether in August, blaming Western sanctions for inflicting technical difficulties. European politicians say that was a pretext to cease supplying gas.

The new Nord Stream 2 pipeline had but to enter industrial operations. The plan to use it to provide gas was scrapped by Germany days earlier than Russia started what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine in late February.

Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Alexander Smith; Editing by Louise Heavens

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