Finland increased gas supply security risk 02:36

Finland has increased the risk of gas supply security. This was reported on the official website of the Finnish National Emergency Management Agency.

“The National Emergency Agency, the competent regulatory authority on the safety of gas supplies, has declared an alert level,” the statement said.

The relevant decision was made due to the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline.

“An important channel for gas imports will not be available for at least five months in the winter of 2023-2024,” the statement said.

The gas supply security risk is rated as medium on a three-stage scale, the agency said. The middle level of the three-level security risk scale “occurs where disruptions in gas supply or exceptionally high demand for gas significantly weaken the security of gas supply, but the market is still able to cope with the disruption or demand without resorting to non-market measures,” the agency explained.

Before this, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas statedIt is stated that the events that damaged the Balticconnector gas pipeline and telecommunications cables between Finland, Sweden and Estonia are interconnected.

The emergency on the Balticconnector gas pipeline occurred on the night of October 8. Operators first noted a drop in pressure, and then there was evidence of a leak causing the pipe valves to close. Two days later, Norwegian seismologists announced that they had recorded an explosion, most likely magnitude 1, in the Balticconnector region.

Finnish Police reportedIt was stated that during the investigation of the damage to the gas pipeline, Balticconnector was working on a version of the involvement of the Chinese container ship Newnew Polar Bear.

Previously in NATO promise Respond decisively to the blowing up of the Balticconnector gas pipeline.