Update 02.10.2022 - 17:00 h

According to a Twitter post from the Danish energy agency Energistyrelsen at 12.42 pm on Sunday, gas is no longer leaking from either of the Nord Stream pipelines. The agency is referring to the operating company. Whether and how reconnaissance missions confirm this is not known here. It is possible that this information relates to the twin pipe of Nord Stream 2.

In contrast, the Swedish coastguard reported no change to yesterday's situation in a communiqué issued at 4.04 pm on Sunday afternoon. During overflights on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and again at 1 p.m., the diameters of the gas bubble fields were still around 100 metres at the larger leakage point and 15 metres at the smaller one. These figures probably relate to Nord Stream 1.

Original post from 02.10.2022 - 13:00

According to reports from the Swedish coastguard, the amount of gas escaping from the leaks within the Swedish economic zone is decreasing. At the time of the overflight by a Swedish Coast Guard aircraft at around 4.30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon (1 October), the leakage area of the larger leak only had a diameter of around 100 metres and that of the smaller leak a diameter of 15 metres. In contrast, the larger leak measured almost 960 metres on 27 September.

The current forecasts of the Swedish Coast Guard, which are based on calculations by the operating company Nord Stream, assume that the gas leak will end on Sunday, 2 October. The Swedish Coast Guard's patrol vessel KBV 003 "Amfitrite" has been on site since the damage became known.

Ecological effects.

According to calculations by the Danish Energy Agency, the leakages from the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines could release around 778 million standard cubic metres of natural gas in the worst-case scenario. The amount of gas released corresponds to greenhouse gas emissions of around 14.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). For comparison: Danish CO2e emissions in 2020 amounted to around 45 million tonnes of CO2e. The climate effect of the leaks would therefore correspond to 32 per cent of Danish greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

International reactions

International reactions range from political statements to concrete measures. In a joint statement on 30 September, the Nordic defence ministers expressed their concern about the damage to the two pipelines. "It cannot be ruled out that this is a reckless attack on the European energy infrastructure and an attempt to destabilise the already tense security situation."

As a result of the suspected sabotage of the two Nord Stream pipelines, the Norway its offshore installations are monitored by the coastguard and armed forces. Photo: The photo shows the 4,000-tonne Barentshav-class coast guard vessel "Sortand" on patrol off the Troll A gas production platform, which is considered to be the largest in the world.

The German Navy has declared its willingness to provide possible support for reconnaissance. The inspector of the navy mentioned this at an event on the occasion of the German Maritime Day in Bremen. In this context, it should be noted that although the damage occurred in international waters, it is still in the exclusive economic zones of Denmark and Sweden. The investigations are therefore national matters that are the responsibility of the respective Swedish and Danish law enforcement authorities be carried out. The Operating company Nord Stream AG, based in Zug, Switzerland, which as a civilian company is primarily responsible for the safety and monitoring of the entire facility, will be involved in the investigation. It points out that it can begin the assessment once the necessary official authorisations have been obtained. "Access to the accident site may only take place once the pressure in the pipeline has stabilised and the gas leak has stopped" (communiqué dated 29 September).

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