According to French researchers, the leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines released less climate-damaging methane into the atmosphere than had been feared. Data from monitoring stations across Europe led them to conclude that 70,000 tonnes of methane had been released, scientists at France’s Commission for Atomic and Alternative Energy (CEA) said. Other estimates were many times higher, reaching 300,000 tonnes.
The estimated amount released is equivalent to 2% of France’s carbon emissions, or Paris emissions for an entire year, said Philippe Ciais. Scientists have expressed concern about the weather and the environmental impact of the leaks. However, they also emphasized that the amounts of methane affected accounted for only a fraction of global emissions.
Last week, a total of four leaks were discovered in the “Nord Stream 1” and “Nord Stream 2” pipelines, which lead from Russia across the Baltic Sea to Germany. Although the lines are not in operation, they were supplied with gas for technical reasons. Meanwhile, the gas leak has largely dried up. According to a Danish-Swedish report to the UN Security Council, the leaks were caused by underwater explosions with an explosive force equivalent to “hundreds of kilograms” of explosives. Both the West and Russia accused him of sabotage.
Moscow confirms operational readiness of “Nord Stream 2”
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stressed that Moscow could supply gas “in the shortest possible time” through the intact part of “Nord Stream 2”. To do that, Europeans would have to make “the necessary legal decisions on certification and lifting of restrictions” for this pipeline, Nowak said.
At the same time, he called on Russia to participate in the investigation of the leaks. Russia’s involvement should be a matter of course, said Russian Presidential Office spokesman 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 took place. Germany is involved in a joint investigation team, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said. She was not aware of any requests from Russia to get involved.
Estonia calls for NATO surveillance
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur called for joint undersea surveillance of NATO pipelines and better information sharing. “NATO has been carrying out ‘air policing’ over the Baltic Sea for years,” Pevkur told the weekly “Die Zeit” (online edition). “We must now also think about ‘subpolicing’, that is, underwater surveillance.”
While NATO’s air and ground reconnaissance is already good, the defense alliance has very little information about the seas – especially in depth. “As far as the oceans are concerned, we only know what is happening on the surface. It’s going to be tough underneath that,” Pevkur said.