October 6, 2022

According to French researchers, the leaks in the “Nord Stream” gas pipelines have released less climate-damaging methane into the atmosphere than feared. Data from monitoring stations across Europe led them to conclude that 70,000 tonnes of methane had been released, scientists at France’s Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission (CEA) said yesterday. Other estimates were many times higher, at up to 300,000 tons.

The estimated amount released is equivalent to 2 percent of France’s carbon emissions, or Paris’ emissions for a full year, said Philippe Ciais. Scientists had expressed concern regarding the climate and environmental impact of the leaks. However, they also emphasized that the amounts of methane affected accounted for only a fraction of global emissions.

In the past week, a total of four leaks were discovered in the “Nord Stream 1” and “Nord Stream 2” pipelines, which lead from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Although the lines are not in operation, they were filled with gas for technical reasons. In the meantime, the gas leak has largely dried up. According to a Danish-Swedish report for the UN Security Council, the leaks were caused by underwater explosions with an explosive force equivalent to “hundreds of kilos” of explosives. Both the West and Russia accused it of sabotage.

Moscow confirms operational readiness of “Nord Stream 2”

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stressed that Moscow might supply gas “in the shortest possible time” through the undamaged part of “Nord Stream 2”. To do this, Europeans would have to make “the necessary legal decisions regarding certification and the lifting of restrictions” for this pipeline, Nowak said.

At the same time, he called for Russia to participate in investigating the leaks. The involvement of Russia should be a matter of course, said the spokesman for the Russian Presidential Office, Dmitry Peskov. Russia is also interested in clarification. “So far, however, we have only heard disturbing statements at press conferences in Denmark and Sweden that any cooperation with Russia is ruled out.”

The investigations are led by Denmark and Sweden, in whose territorial waters the leaks occurred. Germany is involved in a joint investigation team, as a spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior said. She was not aware of any request from Russia to be involved.

Estonia calls for NATO surveillance

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur called for joint NATO pipeline underwater surveillance and better information sharing. “NATO has been conducting ‘air policing’ over the Baltic Sea for years,” Pevkur told the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit” (online edition). “We should now also think regarding ‘sub policing’, i.e. underwater surveillance.”

While NATO’s air and land reconnaissance is already good, the defense alliance has too little information regarding the seas – especially at depth. “As far as the oceans go, we only know what’s happening on the surface. It’s going to be difficult underneath that,” said Pevkur.