VIDEO | Drama in the Baltic Sea: a new fuel leak emerges under water
The coastguards of Sweden They detected this Thursday a fourth leak in the Nord Stream pipelines who connect Russia with Germany through Baltic seaincidents reported by the NATO like a “reckless” sabotage.
These gas pipelines, which run almost in parallel, have been at the center of tensions sparked around the cut off of Russian gas supplies to Europe in response to Western sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine.
Target of Western suspicion for this alleged sabotage, Russia defended himself by pointing the finger at the United States and called a meeting of the CUN Security Council Friday to fix the problem.
“It is very difficult to imagine that such a terrorist act could occur without the participation of a state,” the Kremlin spokesman said Thursday. Dmitry Peskovcalling to “an urgent investigation”.
The Swedish Coast Guard It said on Thursday there were a total of four gas pipeline leaks, two in its exclusive economic zone and two others in Denmark, all in international waters.
The fourth leak is located northeast of the Danish island of Bornholm, above the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the coastguard said in a statement.
At the start of the week, three leaks had been reported, two in Denmark and one in Sweden, after two suspected explosions on Monday morning and afternoon near Bornholm.
The pipelines, operated by a consortium controlled by the Russian giant Gazprom, are not operational due to the war in Ukraine, but they are still full of gas.
On Thursday, NATO said the damage to this infrastructure was “deliberate and irresponsible acts of sabotage”.
“Leaks cause hazards to vessels and significant environmental damage,” the military alliance said in a statement.
As a precaution, Finland, a neighbor of Russia, ordered this Thursday a reinforcement of security around its strategic infrastructures, with particular attention to the electricity network, announced the Minister of Finance, Annika Saarikko.
Similarly, in Sweden, the two main nuclear power plants, located in Forsmark (center-east) and Ringhals (south-west), told AFP that they had moved to the level of “enhanced surveillance”.
Russia has denied being behind the explosions. The United States followed suit, calling Moscow’s overtures “ridiculous”.
The Russian security service has opened an investigation into “international terrorism” on the leaks and said they had caused “significant economic damage” to the country.
Terrible environmental consequences
Seismological institutes said on Tuesday they “in all probability” recorded explosions in the area before the leaks were detected.
These leaks cause bubbles several meters long on the surface of the sea which make it impossible to immediately inspect the ducts, according to officials in the affected countries.
The Danish authorities have assured that the leaks will continue until the gas runs out in the pipes, which is expected to happen on Sunday.
A Swedish coast guard vessel specializing in decontamination is in the area with a remotely operated underwater vehicle. They were also deployed Danish ships.
“According to the crew, the flow of gas visible on the surface remains constant,” the Swedish authorities said.
Fatih Birolgeneral manager of the International Energy AgencyHe told a symposium in Paris that it was “very obvious” to him who was behind the incidents.
He also pointed out that the shortage of natural gas due to the war in Ukraine could lead to a harsh winter in Europe.
“Barring any major negative surprises, I think Europe, in terms of natural gas, can survive this winter. With many bruises on our bodies in terms of price and economic and social aspects, but we can overcome it,” he said. said.
According to environmental groups, Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines they contained about 350,000 tons of natural gas-methane.
Greenpeace said leaks can release nearly 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to two-thirds of Denmark’s annual emissions.
With information from AFP.
Source: El Heraldo De Mexico
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