HELSINKI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Tuesday that damage to the Baltic Connector gas pipeline and a data cable between Finland and Estonia was likely caused by an external actor.
The damage led to the gas pipeline's closure due to a pressure drop which indicated a leak, and appeared to be a problem outside normal operational issues, Orpo said. The pipeline breach is within the Finnish economic zone in the Gulf of Finland, while the data cable damage is in the same area but within the Estonian economic zone.
During a government press conference, Orpo emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. He did not name specific foreign countries as potential actors, citing the critical political and security policy situation. The Finnish Bureau of Investigation is overseeing the probe, he said.
He underlined that despite the pipeline's closure, Finland's gas supply remains secure, thanks to a significant liquid natural gas storage facility that opened earlier this year.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in a statement that NATO has offered assistance in the investigation into the damage to the underwater infrastructure.
After ending land-based pipeline imports of Russian natural gas in 2022, Finland has transitioned to importing natural gas via LNG ships, and via the Baltic Connector pipeline. Natural gas accounts for approximately 5 percent of Finland's energy consumption, primarily used in industries, heating, and electricity generation. However, domestic heating with natural gas is relatively uncommon in Finland.
The damaged data cable belongs to Finnish telecommunications company Elisa, but services have been unaffected by the damage, according to Eija Kivekas, director of the Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom. ■
