Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


2014 Map of Nord Stream Baltic Pipe proposed routes Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Gas Plan; Nord Stream Crosses Baltic Pipe, Extranet.acer.europe.eu ENTSOG June 2014

Danish “Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends the opening of the Baltic Pipe in Stettin

The Prime Minister’s Office

On Tuesday 27 September, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will participate in the opening of the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline together with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Climate, Energy and Supply Minister Dan Jørgensen will also participate in the opening ceremony.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen states:

“Putin uses energy as a weapon to threaten our security of supply, push energy prices up and create discord between allies. It is therefore more important than ever that we work closely with our European partners so that the EU becomes independent of Russian energy as soon as possible. The Baltic Pipe is an important step on the way.”

The Baltic Pipe connects the Polish, Danish and Norwegian gas systems. The pipeline makes it possible to transport Norwegian natural gas to Poland via Denmark and is crucial for Poland to be free of Russian gas. The project contributes to ensuring security of supply in Denmark, Eastern Europe and the Baltics and reduces the EU’s dependence on Russian gas. https://www.stm.dk/presse/pressemeddelelser/statsminister-mette-frederiksen-deltager-i-aabningen-af-baltic-pipe-i-stettin/

“Gas leak in the Baltic Sea
After the three gas leaks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, the Danish Defence deployed the frigate Absalon and the pollution control vessel Gunnar Thorson, as well as a helicopter capacity.
September 27, 2022 – 14:35
By the Danish Defence Command
 
Following the three gas leaks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, prohibition zones have been established around the leaks for the sake of the safety of ship and air traffic.
 
Nord Stream 1 has two leaks northeast of Bornholm, Nord Stream 2 has one leak south of Dueodde. The leaks were discovered by the Danish Defence F-16 interceptor response unit. 
 
The defense is supporting in connection with the authorities’ efforts regarding the leaks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. The frigate Absalon and the pollution control vessel ship Gunnar Thorson are on their way to carry out water monitoring at the exclusion zones, and the Danish Defence are also supporting with a helicopter capacity. In addition, the patrol ship Rota was in the area last night.
 
The Danish Defense has no further comments at this time.
 
Here is the video from the Danish Defence helicopter SAR emergency at Roskilde:
https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/news/2022/gas-leak-in-the-baltic-sea/

“Mystery Leaks from Pipelines Bubble Up in Baltic Sea
September 27, 2022 8:35 AM
UPDATE September 27, 2022 2:44 PM By Steve Herman, VOA News
WASHINGTON — 
Sabotage is suspected in multiple ruptures of the two Nord Stream natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

“The leaks are under investigation. There are initial reports indicating that this may be the result of an attack or some kind of sabotage,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Tuesday…

The 1,222 kilometer-long Nord Stream 1 pipeline has been, until recently, a major source of gas for Germany. Nord Stream 2, which is 1,234 kilometers in length, has yet to go into commercial operation.

“We have established a report and the crime classification is gross sabotage,” the Swedish national police said Tuesday, announcing a preliminary investigation into possible sabotage of Nord Stream 1.

“There are three leaks, and therefore it is difficult to imagine that it could be accidental,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen Tuesday.

“We see clearly that this is an act of sabotage — an act which likely means a further step of escalation of the situation in Ukraine,” concurred Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Frederkisen and Morawiecki spoke in Gloeniow in Poland at the opening ceremony for Baltic Pipe, part of a Polish plan to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. The line will connect Poland to Norwegian gas fields through Denmark.

“No option can be ruled out right now,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, regarding the possibility of sabotage, adding that the leaks are a cause for concern.

Russia closed Nord Stream 1 earlier this month, ostensibly for maintenance work.

The majority owner of the network’s operator, Nord Stream AG, is Gazprom, a Russian state-owned energy company.

“The destruction that occurred on the same day simultaneously on three strings of the offshore gas pipelines of the Nord Stream system is unprecedented,” said NordStream AG in a statement. “It is not yet possible to estimate the timing of the restoration of the gas transport infrastructure.”

“The biggest leak is spreading bubbles a good kilometer in diameter. The smallest is creating a circle about 200 meters” in diameter, according to a statement from the Danish armed services, which included photographs of the leaks off the island of Bornholm. https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/news/2022/gas-leak-in-the-baltic-sea/

Scientists in Europe say seismographs on Monday recorded powerful blasts in the Baltic Sea, the same day the two gas pipelines dropped pressure.

“There was a spike and then regular noise,” said Josef Zens, a spokesman for the German geological research center GFZ. “We cannot say if that could be gas streaming out.”

“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action,” wrote Bloomberg Opinion columnist Javier Blas, quoting the late British author Ian Fleming.

“The leaks are more likely a message: Russia is opening a new front on its energy war against Europe. First, it weaponized gas supply, halting shipments, including via the Nord Stream pipeline. Now, it may be attacking the energy infrastructure it once used to ship its energy,” said Blas, author of The World for Sale: Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earth’s Resources.

Amid much speculation on social media about who might have sabotaged Nord Stream, there is no credible evidence of a likely culprit or motive. Analysts and amateurs on Twitter contend the Russians may have deployed divers or unmanned submersible vehicles to poke holes in the pipelines.

The leaks are a result of a “terrorist attack” and “an act of aggression” against the European Union, declared Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office.

…. This just drives home the importance of our efforts to work together to get alternative gas supplies to Europe and to support efforts to reduce gas consumption and accelerate true energy independence by moving to a clean energy economy,” a White House National Security Council spokesperson told VOA.

While the impact to Europe ahead of the winter as a result of the loss of the pipelines remains to be seen, the trio of leaks poses an immediate hazard to wildlife and maritime navigation.

The gas could suffocate animals and is an explosion threat to passing ships, according to environmental groups”. https://www.voanews.com/a/unexplained-leaks-hit-russian-undersea-gas-pipelines-in-baltic/6765060.html