10.10.2023, Helsinki.
Damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline has been detected at a section in Finland’s economic zone, it will not affect the situation with energy supply, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said at a press conference on October 10.
According to Orpo, the Border Guard and the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard have identified the location of the leak: it is in Finland’s economic zone. He noted that the damage to the gas pipeline could not have been caused by its operation and usual pressure drops. The Prime Minister said that the energy supply situation in Finland remains stable.
“We are not talking about damage that could disable our gas transportation system,” Orpo explained.
Rear Admiral Markku Hassinen, deputy head of the Border Guard Service, said the damage was discovered early in the morning of October 10. According to Hassinen, the damage was caused from outside. The information has been passed to the Central Criminal Police (CCP), which is leading the investigation.
According to CCP inspector Timo Kilpeläinen, the police have launched a preliminary investigation into the case. The investigation suspects sabotage. A technical investigation is currently underway at the site of the leak. The CCP estimates that it will take several days due to heavy shipping traffic.
On the night of October 7-8, Finnish gas transmission system operator Gasgrid and Estonian natural gas transmission system operator Elering detected an uncharacteristic pressure drop in the Balticconnector pipeline. The valves of the offshore pipe were shut off and experts started looking for a leak.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
