Leaks in major pipelines built to carry natural gas from Russia to Western Europe have sparked investigations and accusations that sabotage might be at work.
The pipelines, Nord Stream 1 and 2, are supposed to carry the fuel through the Baltic Sea. The flow through Nord Stream 1 was halted for maintenance in early September but has never resumed.
Nord Stream 2 has never gone online because of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
But now both projects are being plagued by “unprecedented” leaks and now European authorities are looking into whether foul play might have been involved.
The Nord Stream 2 leak was found on Monday, according to CBS News.
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On Tuesday the Swedish Maritime Administration announced that two leaks were found in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, CBS reported.
Nord Stream 1, completed and operational since 2011, hasn’t been active since Sept. 1, when Russia blamed European sanctions for hindering necessary repairs, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Nord Stream 2, completed in September 2021, never had the chance to officially open for operation after German authorities put a temporary hold on certifying it in November amid Russian threats to Ukraine, according to CNBC.
In February, after Russia recognized the independence of two territories in eastern Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted certification completely, CNBC reported.
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Despite the fact that the pipelines are not pumping gas to Europe, they are still filled with fuel that is now leaking out. Some European leaders are blaming Russia, according to CNBC.
Denmark’s prime minister, Premier Mette Frederiksen, said that she “cannot rule out” sabotage as a possible contribution to these leaks, the Danish-language news outlet Politiken reported.
“It is hard to imagine that it is accidental. We cannot rule out sabotage, but it is too early to conclude,” Frederiksen told Politiken, according to the eurobserver, an online news outlet based in Brussels.
Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to…
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