The manager of the Finnish gas network announced the closure of the gas pipeline from Estonia due to an alleged leak, leaving the last Finnish gas pipeline in service inoperative after the cessation of Russian imports. Gasgrid, the state company, noted “an unusual drop in pressure” in the gas pipeline around 2:00 a.m. (23:00 GMT on Saturday) and “suspected a leak,” it explained in a statement.
The company said it was investigating the matter together with its Estonian counterpart, Elering. Gasgrid assured that the Finnish gas system is stable, with gas supply assured through a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Inkoo (south).
Russian imports to stop in May 2022
The gas pipeline, opened in 2019 and closed on Sunday, called “Balticconnector”, is the only gas import channel to Finland (apart from LNG) since the cessation of Russian imports in May 2022. Russia has stopped supplying natural gas to Finland via the gas pipeline after The Scandinavian country refused to pay Moscow in rubles.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow asked customers in “hostile countries,” including European Union member states, to pay for gas in rubles, a way to avoid Western financial sanctions against its central bank. Natural gas accounts for around five percent of Finland’s energy consumption and is mainly used in industry and combined heat and power production.
Source: BFM TV
