Mystery leaks hit Russian undersea gas lines
(VOVWORLD) - European countries on Tuesday raced to investigate unexplained leaks in two Russian gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea near Sweden and Denmark, infrastructure at the heart of an energy crisis since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
 Security walks in front of the landfall facility of the Baltic Sea gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 in Lubmin, Germany, September 19, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch) |
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 in a five nautical mile radius.
Both pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between European capitals and Moscow that has pummelled major Western economies, sent gas prices soaring and sparked a hunt for alternative energy supplies.
Neither pipeline was pumping gas to Europe at the time the leaks were found but the incidents will scupper any remaining expectations that Europe could receive gas via Nord Stream 1 before winter.