Denmark’s armed forces released a video showing bubbles boiling up to the surface of the sea. The largest gas leak had caused a surface disturbance of well over one kilometer (0.6 miles) in diameter. Image: Denmark Armed Forces/Screenshot
European authorities are investigating the cause of a pair of Russian gas pipeline leaks in the Baltic Sea on Monday. Sweden has launched a probe to find out whether the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were sabotaged. The leaks come after Russia cut gas deliveries to Europe amid massive sanctions imposed because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to reports, the National Seismology Center at the Uppsala University told Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT that it registered two explosions in the Baltic Sea, one early Monday near the Danish island of Bornholm and the second one a few hours later nearby. Soon after, gas pressure in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines fell dramatically.
The Nord Stream pipelines have been pivotal in the energy war between Europe and Moscow that has sent fuel prices skyrocketing all over the world. Russia and Europe poured billions of dollars into their construction.
From an environmental standpoint, the crisis has everyone on edge. While both pipelines had paused operations, both contained natural gas, which is mostly methane – a greenhouse gas and the second biggest cause of climate change after CO2. “There are a number of uncertainties, but if these pipelines fail, the impact to the climate will be disastrous and could even be unprecedented,” said atmospheric chemist David McCabe, a senior scientist with the non-profit, Clean Air Task Force.
“We have established a report and the crime classification is gross sabotage,” a Swedish national police spokesperson said in a Reuters report. Apparently, Sweden isn’t the only country that suspects foul play. Ukrainian officials, as well as the Polish Prime Minister and the Danish premier all believe the leaks are no accident.
Russia cut the supply from the Nord Steam 1 and the Nord Stream 2 in August, citing sanctions by the West as the cause of technical difficulties. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline had not yet began commercial operations, and its planned usage was canceled just a few days before Russian troops entered Ukraine.
The leaks are extraordinarily bad news for Europe’s gas supplies, no matter what happens with the conflict.
“The multiple undersea leaks mean neither pipeline will likely deliver any gas to the EU over the coming winter, irrespective of political developments in the Ukraine war,” Eurasia Group wrote in a note cited by Reuters.
In the days since the explosions were registered, video has been released showing bubbles boiling to the surface of the sea. Denmark imposed shipping restrictions, as the turbulence could pose a danger to vessels.
“The sea surface is full of methane, which means there is an increased risk of explosions in the area,” said the head of Denmark’s Energy Agency, Kristoffer Bottzauw.
Gazprom, the Kremlin-backed company that controls all of Russia’s gas exports by pipeline, declined requests for comment.
