European countries on Tuesday scrambled to investigate unexplained leaks in two Russian gas pipelines.
The pipelines are running under the Baltic Sea near Sweden and Denmark infrastructure at the heart of an energy crisis since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden’s Maritime Authority issued a warning about two leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, shortly after a leak on the nearby Nord Stream 2 pipeline was discovered that had prompted Denmark to restrict shipping within a five-nautical mile radius.
Both pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between Europe and Moscow that has pummeled major Western economies and sent gas prices soaring.
Neither pipeline was pumping gas to Europe at the time leaks were found amid the dispute over the Ukraine war but both still contained gas under pressure.
The incidents will hinder any effort to start or restart either pipeline for commercial operations.
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Denmark’s energy minister Dan Jorgensen said in a written comment “yesterday, a leak was detected on one of the two gas pipelines between Russia and Denmark, Nord Stream 2.
“The pipeline is not in operation but contains natural gas, which is now leaking.
“Authorities have now been informed that there have been 2 more leaks on Nord Stream 1, which is also not in operation but contains gas,’’ the minister said.
Russia slashed gas supplies to Europe via Nord Stream 1 before suspending flows altogether in August, blaming Western sanctions for causing technical difficulties.
European politicians said that was a pretext to stop gas supplies.
The new Nord Stream 2 pipeline had just been completed but had not entered commercial operations.
The plan to supply gas via the pipeline was scrapped by Germany days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February.
