Earlier this week a new gas leak was detected in Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, bringing the number of leaks found in subsea pipelines in the Baltic Sea to four.
According to a spokesman for the Swedish coast guard, quoted by the France-Presse news agency, this Thursday, two of these four leaks are in the exclusive economic zone of Sweden and the other two will be in the zone belonging to Denmark.
“This is a large spill of about 900 meters in diameter and a smaller one of about 200 meters,” Coast Guard spokeswoman Jenny Larsson told the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.
“The distance is subjective, but they are close to each other,” he added, referring to the two leaks from the Swedish side.
Until now, the authorities of both countries had confirmed a leak in the area of the Baltic Sea belonging to Sweden, northeast of the island of Bornholm, and two in the area belonging to Denmark.
The leaks are causing significant tidal waves on the surface of the water, extending several hundred meters, making immediate inspection of the structures impossible, officials said.
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the European Union (EU) and NATO allege that the Nord Stream leaks were caused by an “intentional act” and “sabotage”.
For its part, the Kremlin described European accusations that Russia could be responsible for the damage detected in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines as “meaningless and absurd”, pointing the finger at the United States.
The Russian intelligence services (FSB) have opened an investigation into an “act of international terrorism” following the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, the Russian attorney general announced on Wednesday.
The prosecutor added that “the Russian Federation has suffered serious economic damage as a result of these acts.”
On Friday, the United Nations Security Council will meet at the request of Russia, regarding this sabotage, Sweden and France announced on Wednesday.
Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russia of responsibility for the gas pipeline leak, denouncing a “terrorist attack” against the European Union (EU).
The first Nord Stream, capable of pumping 55 billion cubic meters of gas a year, was halted after Russia alleged an oil leak at the only Russian compressor station still in operation.
Nord Stream 2, on the other hand, never came online due to Berlin’s blockade of infrastructure, even before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.
However, both pipes are filled with gas and therefore must maintain a stable pressure.
Source: TSF
