Five keys to the three simultaneous leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines

While waiting to know the causes that have caused three simultaneous leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, more and more voices are pointing to sabotage and warn of the consequences that such an intentional act could have.

What happened and especially where and who was responsible are key in this incident, one more in the geopolitical conflict between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine and its energy consequences.

-What happened?

On the night of Sunday to Monday, a leak was detected in one of the two threads of Nord Stream 2, which never came into operation due to Berlin’s blockade of the infrastructure even before the war intervention in Ukraine. However, it was filled with gas and must therefore maintain pressure.

The day before, leaks were also observed in both threads of Nord Stream 1.

-Where?

Initially, it was said that the leak of Nord Stream 2 was recorded in the exclusive economic zone of Denmark, southeast of the island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea and that those of Nord Stream 1 were detected in waters of Denmark and another in those of neighboring Sweden, near the island of Bornholm.

In the evening, the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksn, and the Defense Minister, Morten Bodskov, stressed that Denmark did not consider that it was a military action against this country, since, they said, it occurred in international waters.

The Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, also stressed that the incident had occurred outside her territory and that there could be no talk of a direct attack.

-Why?

The causes of what happened are unknown at the moment, according to the operator of the two gas pipelines, who described the damage recorded as “unprecedented” and pointed out that for now it cannot estimate when they will be corrected.

Nord Stream AG, the Swiss-based infrastructure manager, confirmed a “pressure drop” in both pipelines due to leaks.

-Who?

This is the other big unknown. The two affected countries, Denmark and Sweden, point out that the leaks are due to an intentional act and not an accident, although they have not speculated on the possible reason or the author.

Russia does not rule anything out and awaits the results of the investigation, while, from the European Unionthe president of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, has advanced that, in the event that a “sabotage action” is confirmed, there will be “a strong response”.

-What are the Nord Stream 1 and 2?

Nord Stream 1 became operational in 2011, the year construction of Nord Stream 2 began.

With a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas a year, the Nord Stream 1 interrupted supplies a few weeks ago after Russia alleged an oil leak at the only Russian compressor station still in operation.

Nord Stream 2 was never operational, as Germany suspended the authorization process following Moscow’s recognition of the Donbas republics. However, the gas infrastructure was filled with gas and must therefore maintain pressure.