NATO to Discuss Damage to Gas Pipeline and Telecom Cable Connecting Finland and Estonia
On October 11th, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance would be discussing the damage to a gas pipeline and data cable connecting NATO members Finland and Estonia. Stoltenberg stated that NATO would mount a “determined” response if it was proven that the damage was a deliberate attack on critical infrastructure. The Balticconnector pipeline and telecommunications cable were confirmed to be damaged after Finland’s Gasgrid detected a drop in pressure and a possible leak during a storm.
The Finnish authorities, who are conducting the investigation, have suggested that the damage was caused by “outside activity.” This has raised concerns over regional energy security and led to an increase in gas prices. Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of establishing what happened and how it occurred.
The National Bureau of Investigation in Finland has discovered “external marks” on the seabed near the damaged pipeline and is currently reviewing vessel movements in the area during the time of the rupture. Anchor damage has not been ruled out, but at this stage, it appears that the damage was caused by mechanical force rather than an explosion.
The Balticconnector pipeline runs between Inkoo in Finland and Paldiski in Estonia across the Gulf of Finland. It is jointly operated by Estonia’s Elering and Finland’s Gasgrid. The operators have stated that repairs to the pipeline will take at least five months, and gas transfers are unlikely to resume before April.
The Kremlin has described the incident as “disturbing.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream pipelines, which also traverse the Baltic Sea, set a dangerous precedent. Those pipelines were damaged by explosions caused by sabotage.
The main concern remains NATO’s response if there is evidence to suggest that a state actor was behind the pipeline damage. Henri Vanhanen, a research fellow at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, highlighted the need for clear countermeasures and deterrence against sabotage activities.
The Finnish government has raised preparedness levels at critical infrastructure facilities, and Norway and Lithuania have increased security at onshore energy installations. Investigations into the damage are ongoing, and more information is expected to emerge in the coming days.
The Balticconnector pipeline, which was inaugurated in December 2019, was designed to enhance gas market integration in the region, providing Finland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with more flexibility in their energy supply.