After the announcement in recent hours by the Danish maritime traffic authority of a gas leak detected on the route of Nord Stream 2, its operator confirmed in a press release that the leak affected the underwater gas pipeline, majority owned by the Russian giant Gazprom.
This pipeline, built in parallel to the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline and intended to double the capacity to import Russian gas into Germany, is not operational.
The site was almost finished, but the operating permit was blocked by the German government in February, just before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The pipeline had nevertheless been "technically prepared" and "filled with gas", explained Ulrich Lissek, spokesperson for Nord Stream 2.
Breaking: Sweden has issued warning of leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline at two points in the Baltic Sea.
There is early speculation that the pipelines have been sabotaged.
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At the end of the evening, the operator of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline also reported a drop in pressure in this pipeline.
"The reasons are being clarified," Nord Stream AG said on its website.
"We do not know the reasons for the drop in pressure," said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economics in Berlin.
But according to him, “there is no repercussion on the security of supply.
The gas no longer arrives via Nord Stream 1 since the cessation of Russian deliveries at the beginning of September, ”she recalled.
"The authorities have now been informed that there have been two further leaks in the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which is also not operational, but contains gas", confirmed the Danish Minister for Climate and Health. Energy.
Dangerous for maritime traffic
The Russian giant Gazprom had drastically reduced its gas deliveries in recent months to Germany through this gas pipeline, before stopping them completely.
Germany, which obtained 55% of its supplies from Russia before the war, must therefore obtain supplies elsewhere, at much higher prices, which seriously threatens its economic model.
Regarding Nord Stream 2, the Danish maritime authority specified in a notice to ships that the leak, spotted about twenty kilometers south-east of the Danish island of Bornholm, just outside Danish territorial waters, was "dangerous for maritime traffic".
"Navigation is prohibited within a radius of five nautical miles (approximately 9 kilometers) around the reported position", specifies the authority.
According to unofficial sources, an overflight ban has also been issued for aircraft over the area.
