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Stunning aerial imagery has shown the extent of the leaks, with world leaders suggesting that the pipelines were targeted as “an act of sabotage”.
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Three leaks were discovered in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines overnight, prompting accusations from world leaders of sabotage.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Nord Stream 1 delivered over 50 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Europe every year.
Meanwhile Nord Stream 2, which was only completed in late 2021, was designed to deliver additional gas reserves for the European energy market though was never operational.
The discovery of the leaks prompted European leaders to claim that the leaks were acts of sabotage, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arguing that the leaks were “deliberate”.
“It is now the clear assessment by authorities that these are deliberate actions. It was not an accident,” Prime Minister Frederiksen asserted.
Already, evidence has emerged that pours cold water on suggestions that the leaks may have been caused by seismic activity.
As reported in Reuters, seismologist at Uppsala University Bjorn Lund explained that data indicates the occurrence of water-based explosions that align with the timing of the leaks, rather than tectonic activity.
Interestingly, the Nord Stream leaks have coincided with the opening of a new gas pipeline between Norway and Poland, weaning European dependence off Russian gas imports. Earlier in the year, it was reported that Russia cut-off Poland from importing gas, having demanded payment in rubles.
At the opening of the new pipeline, Poland’s prime minster, Mateusz Morawiecki, doubled down on accusations that the leaks were malicious in nature.
“Today we faced an act of sabotage, we don’t know all the details of what happened, but we see clearly that it’s an act of sabotage, related to the next step of escalation of the situation in Ukraine,” he explained.
Accusations of foreign sabotage were additionally muddied when Polish member of European Parliament Radek Sikorski, tweeted, “Thank you, USA.” Meanwhile, German news outlet Der Spiegel reported that the CIA had previously warned the German government of potential attacks on Nord Stream.
Thank you, USA. pic.twitter.com/nALlYQ1Crb
— Radek Sikorski MEP (@radeksikorski) September 27, 2022
The Nord Stream leaks have come amid Europe’s worsening energy crisis.
In August, it was revealed that Germany’s annual energy price increase hit 139 per cent. Although, energy prices per megawatt hour grew from an average €51.38/MWh between 2000 to 2022 to €699.44/MWh in August.
It is estimated that Russia provided 40 per cent of European gas needs ahead of the invasion.
Gas prices have hit all segments of Europe’s economy — from shopping centres turning off air conditioners, to the Eiffel Tower turning off its lights an hour earlier to save energy.
Even Hakle, one of Germany’s largest toilet paper manufacturers, declared insolvency due to skyrocketing energy prices. Data has indicated that the number of German organisations becoming insolvent throughout August increased 26 per cent on 2021 with numbers projected to stay high over September and grow in October.
It has yet to be determined how a costly energy market in winter will impact European resolve to support Ukraine’s self-defence efforts.
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