According to Germany, 3 out of the 4 Nord Stream pipelines are irreparably damaged.
According to German authorities, three of the four Nord Stream pipes are damaged beyond repair. And cannot ever be utilised again a September 28 article in The Tagesspiegel. German security services, if the pipeline’s three tubes are not repaired very away, a lot of salt water would seep in and corrode the pipes. The Tagesspiegel said via government sources. More than half of the gas has reportedly already leaked from the damaged lines. At a news conference on September 28, agency chief Kristoffer Böttzauw predicted that the lines would likely be empty by October 2.
The weekend saw an explosion that damaged the twin Nord Stream 1 & 2 pipelines. Which made up of two pipes. And caused breaches that caused the pressure in both sets of pipelines to drop to zero. There has been much speculation regarding who was behind the attack on a significant component of Europe’s energy infrastructure since Sweden’s seismological services announced. There had been an explosion near the pipes on the evening of September 25. According to German accounts, the explosions took place at a depth of 80–90 metres well beyond Danish national waters, making an attack a technically challenging operation and indicating the involvement of either submarines or sophisticated underwater technologies.
Attack or A Mistake?
Given the vast distance between the three holes in the three pipes where the leaks originated and the fact that they all occurred within a few hours of one another. There is little question that this was an attack and not a mistake. Up to this point, pundits have put forth the possibilities of Russia, the US, Ukrainian special forces, and Poland as culprits. The Green Party’s Robert Habeck, the German Economy Minister, issued a warning about the threat of additional acts of sabotage. The Vice Chancellor stated that the crucial infrastructure was a potential target. However, Europe is a continent that can defend its energy infrastructure. And Germany is a country that is capable of self-defense.
Norway, one of the major non-Russian gas exporters to Europe, has significantly improved the security of its pipeline network. Additionally, the European Union has promised to take countermeasures and believes. That sabotage is most likely to blame for the leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. The same day, according to Tagesspiegel, EU foreign policy leader Josep Borrell stated. “All available information shows that these leaks are the consequence of a purposeful act.” The energy infrastructure of Europe will “be confronted with a powerful and unified response” in the event of any intentional disruption.
Who Attacked the Nord Stream Pipelines?
The Ukrainian government was even more direct than expected. “The large-scale ‘gas leak’ at Nord Stream 1 is nothing more than a terrorist strike planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards the EU.” Tweeted Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak on Twitter. Moscow has placed the blame on the US, Citing specific warnings made by US President Joe Biden and others prior to the war. That the US would shut down the pipeline regardless of the wishes of its European allies if Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia has requested a special UN meeting where it would provide its supporting documentation.
A US helicopter that was hovering over that portion of the pipeline, according to a Russian media claim, may have contributed to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipeline leaks.
According to information from Flightradar, the MH-60R Strike Hawk multi-role helicopter circled the Baltic Sea for nine hours between 19:30 Moscow time on Sunday, September 25, and 4:30 Moscow time on Monday, September 26. While it was about 250 kilometers away from the Danish island of Bornholm Where the gas leak was discover. Others, however, draw attention to the fact that the helicopters are frequently employ in anti-submarine missions. Methane is fifty times more harmful to the environment than CO2, according to experts, therefore the escape of that much of it into the atmosphere will have a significant negative impact on it.
Concerns About Germany’s and Europe’s Energy Security
The gas leak does not endanger the public’s health or pose any other risks, according to the Danes’ calculations. But its climatic impact is equivalent to nearly one-third of Denmark’s annual total climate impact. Neither of the pipelines was carrying any gas. Although Nord Stream 2 was never approv and never started up. Nord Stream 1 has been offline for a month as a result of repairs made by Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom. However, the complete withdrawal of Nord Stream from consideration has alarmed the markets because it eliminates the prospect of restarting gas deliveries in the dead of winter if an energy crisis worsens and raises new concerns about Germany’s and Europe’s energy security. One day after the announcement of the attack on the pipeline, gas prices increased by 20%.
The Nord Stream 2 string may theoretically resume some gas flows. But it would require the pipeline to be approve. Which analysts believe will not be realistic given the current political climate.