"Intentional act" behind the Nord Stream gas leaks

9/26/2022

RawNews1st – Denmark’s prime minister has briefed party leaders that there may be an “intentional act” behind the Nord Stream gas leaks. The party leaders were informed that three large explosions had occurred on the gas pipelines, sources tell Berlingske

But it remained far from clear who was behind foul play, if proven, on the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia has spent billions of dollars building with European partners.

The Polish Prime Minister blamed sabotage without providing evidence, and the Danish Prime Minister said it could not be ruled out.

Russia, which has cut gas supplies to Europe after the West imposed sanctions, said sabotage was possible and the incident undermined the continent’s energy security. A senior Ukrainian official called it a Russian attack to destabilize Europe, without providing evidence.

The Nord Stream pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between European capitals and Moscow that has ravaged major Western economies, soared gas prices and sparked a hunt for alternative energy supplies.

Swedish Maritime Authority issued a warning about two leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline the day after a leak in the nearby Nord Stream 2 pipeline was discovered, forcing Denmark to restrict shipping and impose a small no-fly zone.

Cutting supplies

Russia cut gas supplies to Europe through Nord Stream 1 before completely suspending gas supplies in August, accusing Western sanctions of causing technical problems. According to European politicians, this was a pretext to stop the gas supply.

The new Nord Stream 2 pipeline had yet to be deployed commercially. The plan to use it to supply gas was scrapped by Germany days before Russia sent troops to Ukraine in February.

“The multiple undersea leaks mean that neither pipeline will supply gas to the EU this coming winter, regardless of political developments in the war in Ukraine,” Eurasia Group wrote.

European gas prices rose on the news. The benchmark October Dutch price TRNLTTFMc1 up nearly 10% on Tuesday. Prices are still below this year’s stratospheric peaks, but remain more than 200% higher than early September 2021.