International gas prices have increased by almost 20 percent this week following ruptures reported in the Russian gas pipelines to Europe this week.
So far, four leaks, two in each of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, have been reported after gas started leaking this week from the infrastructure outside Swedish and Danish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.
A blame-game is going on pertaining to the leakages in the Russian gas pipeline projects to European countries.
Russia is blaming the United States for damage to Nord Stream 1 and 2 while US is shifting blame on Russia.
On Thursday (Sept 29), Sweden reported fourth leak in Nord Stream 2, close to a rupture found on the twin Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
Two of the four leaks are close to each other in the Swedish exclusive economic zone near Simrishamn, the Coast Guard says as quoted by Svenska Dagbladet, Swedish media reported on Thursday.
Nord Stream 2 was suspended after Germany axed the certification process following the Russian invasion of Ukraine while Russia shut down Nord Stream 1 for an indefinite period this month, saying it was not in a position to repair gas turbines because of the Western sanctions.
Until yesterday, Russian analysts claimed that one of the four lines of the Russian Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines could still be able to ship gas to Europe if Nord Stream 2 received all necessary certifications.
Now it looks like all four lines of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were damaged in mysterious circumstances. The EU as a whole believes the gas leaks from the pipelines in the Baltic Sea were the result of a deliberate act of sabotage and not an accident or a mere technical failure.
The European Union said in a statement on Wednesday, “All available information indicates those leaks are the result of a deliberate act.”
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said earlier this week, commenting on the gas leaks and explosions in the Baltic Sea, “We’re coordinating the situation closely with US and other allies, including on next steps. We will get to the bottom of these incidents and act on them together.”
