Status: 02.10.2022 15:33
Apparently, no more gas flows out of the two Nord Stream pipelines damaged off Bornholm. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe could investigate the alleged sabotage of the Baltic Sea pipelines. This was announced by Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP).
According to Danish information, the gas leak from the damaged Nord Stream 1 pipeline has also apparently come to a standstill. The operator, Nord Stream AG, had been informed that the pressure in the pipeline had also stabilized at Nord Stream 1, the authority announced on Twitter on Sunday afternoon. This indicates that no more gas is escaping. This would mean that no more natural gas would escape from the four leaks in the two pipelines. Nord Stream AG had already declared on Saturday that the gas leak from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline had dried up.
Investigations on leaks possible after the end of the gas escape
For several days, large amounts of gas had been leaking out of the four leaks in the two pipelines – according to the Russian operator parent company Gazprom, a total of 800 million cubic meters of natural gas have already leaked out. Although the two lines were not in operation recently, they were filled with gas for technical reasons. Experts had expected the gas leak to end this weekend. This is a prerequisite for being able to examine the leaks more closely and to find the cause of the damage.
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Buschmann: Attorney General could investigate because of sabotage
Meanwhile, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) said in an interview with “Bild am Sonntag” that it was possible that a crime had been committed off Bornholm on the bottom of the Baltic Sea: anti-constitutional sabotage with repercussions for Germany. The leaks are in the Exclusive Economic Zones of Denmark and Sweden. But since the pipeline lands in Germany, the criminal offense of causing an explosives explosion could come into question, according to Buschmann. The aim would be to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice in Germany through Attorney General Peter Frank, said Buschmann.
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According to Gazprom, the four leaks released as much gas as will be delivered to Denmark in three months. Because such a case of damage was not assumed during the construction of the pipelines, there are also no shut-off valves that could be used to stop the gas flow, it said. Gazprom is examining the possibility of a repair. From a technical point of view, however, the task is “very overwhelming,” said a company spokesman on Friday evening via video link in front of the UN Security Council in New York. At the instigation of Russia, the UN body had dealt with the alleged attack on the natural gas pipelines. The United Nations Environment Panel described the methane emissions as an environmental catastrophe. Methane is considered a climate-damaging greenhouse gas, it is the main component of natural gas.
Environment Agency: One percent of the total German annual emissions
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) was already concerned about the climate impact of the methane emissions on Wednesday. The authority assumes around 7.5 million tons of so-called CO2 equivalents. That corresponds to about one percent of Germany’s total annual emissions. For better comparability, greenhouse gases are converted into CO2 equivalents. The benchmark is their respective contribution to global warming compared to carbon dioxide. The UBA assumes that the leaks will release 0.3 million tons of methane into the atmosphere. The environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) came to similar conclusions, speaking of “immeasurable damage” to climate protection.
Speculations as to who caused the leaks continue
The leaks were discovered just under a week ago. There is now little doubt that they were deliberately created by explosions. The origin of the explosions is still unclear. According to a Danish-Swedish report for the UN Security Council, the leaks were caused by underwater explosions with an explosive power equivalent to “hundreds of kilos” of explosives. Russia had requested the UN Security Council session and indirectly blamed the US for the leaks. The Americans have repeatedly denied such allegations. Russia’s ruler Vladimir Putin had explicitly described the United States and its western allies as the originators of the leaks. On the other hand, several Western experts say that Russia has motives for such an attack – for example to trigger further uncertainty in the West. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said it was premature to speculate about the leaks until the incident was thoroughly investigated.
Faeser: Joint investigative group, increased patrols
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) meanwhile assured Denmark and Sweden of support in investigating the leaks. The damaged pipeline sites are located in the exclusive economic zones of the two Scandinavian countries. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced on Saturday a joint investigative group of Germany, Denmark and Sweden. It’s about clarifying the background. This requires the expertise of the navy, police and intelligence services. Faeser also spoke about joint controls at sea with Poland, Denmark and Sweden. All available forces and ships of the federal police are to be deployed.
“The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines is a threat to the EU”
Scholz said that Germany and its partners in NATO and the EU would also “increase precautions and protection against sabotage for critical infrastructure”. Infrastructure Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) even wants to anchor a modern, sustainable infrastructure in the Basic Law. The EU heads of state and government want to discuss infrastructure security next week. “The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines is a threat to the EU. We are determined to secure our critical infrastructure,” said EU Council President Charles Michel on Saturday.
Lubmin: Gascade is upgrading facilities at the landfall
In Lubmin near Greifswald, at the landing point of the pipelines on the German mainland, the gas network operator Gascade now wants to expand and convert its systems to enable flexible pipeline connections as a hub. Previously, the facility was designed to only transfer gas from Nord Stream 1 and 2 inland.
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