Finnish police announced on Friday that a Chinese ship was at the center of their investigation into the gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia recently damaged by external intervention. “The movements of the Hong Kong-flagged ship Newnew Polar Bear coincide with the time and place where the pipeline was damaged,” the National Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. Finland is investigating the leak from the Balticconnector gas pipeline that led to its closure on October 8, after authorities announced that it was due to external intervention, raising fears of possible sabotage.
Police also confirmed that the damage was caused by “an external mechanical force” and that they had detected “a heavy object” near the gas pipeline. “A huge, newly formed mound of earth has been discovered on the seabed, probably containing an extremely heavy object,” Risto Lohi added. Police will attempt to recover the object to see if there is a link to the damaged gas pipeline.
“At least five months” of repair work
According to the director of the Finnish gas pipeline, the repair work will last “at least five months”, which will force Finland to be supplied through its floating liquefied natural gas terminal in Inkoo (south). Natural gas accounts for around 5% of Finland’s energy consumption, mainly for industry and electricity production, as well as for heating.
More than a year ago, on September 26, 2022, four huge gas leaks occurred preceded by underwater explosions in Nord Stream 1 and 2, gas pipelines that transported most of the Russian gas to Europe. Its origin remains an enigma.
Source: BFM TV
