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News / Balticconnector’s inspections delayed due to challenging sea conditions and continued investigations by authorities

Balticconnector’s inspections delayed due to challenging sea conditions and continued investigations by authorities

Gasgrid Finland and the Estonian gas transmission system operator Elering AS noticed an unusual drop in pressure in the Balticconnector offshore gas connection pippipeline running between the countries in the early hours of October 8, 2023. The pipeline was isolated shortly after the discovery by closing Balticconnector’s valves. Due to the unusual drop in pressure, it was reasonable to suspect that the cause of the incident was damage to the offshore gas pipe and a resulting leak. Gas leak caused by the verified damage in the pipe section has stopped due to the isolation of the pipe section and the closing of the valves. At the moment, gas transmission between Finland and Estonia has been halted. The state of the Finnish gas system is stable, and the supply of gas is secured through the Inkoo LNG terminal.

On Tuesday 10 October, Finnish authorities found damage to the Balticconnector, which was caused the unusual drop in pressure observed in the early morning on Sunday 8 October. Gasgrid Finland’s previously launched offshore pipeline inspection operation continues, despite the findings, to cover the entirety of the offshore pipeline. The goal of the ongoing inspection operation is to get an accurate understanding of the condition of the entire pipeline, after which more detailed repair measures and their schedule can be planned. Gasgrid Finland is responsible for the inspection operation, and it is carried out in cooperation with Elering. The inspection operation has been underway this week and will continue next week as well due to the challenging sea conditions and to enable the official investigation. The inspection operation is expected to be completed at the end of next week.

Based on preliminary expert assessments, it can be assumed that the planning of the repair work, the mobilization of the necessary underwater equipment and the actual repair measures, including the inspection of the repaired pipe section and commissioning, will last at least five months. Therefore, the earliest possible commissioning date of the Balticconnector pipeline would be at the beginning of April 2024.

The state of Finland’s gas system is stable and the supply of gas is secured

The situation of the Finnish gas system is stable, and the supply of gas has been secured through the Inkoo LNG terminal.

The terminal has the capacity and the ability to deliver the gas Finland needs in the coming winter as well, even though gas consumption is typically higher in winter seasons. Market participants have been instructed to ensure the gas supply they need by ordering it to Inkoo or Hamina LNG terminal, so that the continuity of gas supply is secured in the coming winter season.

Gasgrid Finland will provide more information about the development of the situation on its website www.gasgrid.fi as soon as more information is available.

More information:

Janne Grönlund, SVP, Transmission System, Gasgrid Finland Oy, +358 40 036 8825

Media contacts: Virve Wright, SVP, Communications, Sustainability, Public Relations, Gasgrid Finland Oy, +358 40 552 9219

Gasgrid Finland is a Finnish state-owned company and transmission system operator with system responsibility. We offer our customers safe, reliable and cost-efficient transmission of gases. We actively develop our transmission platform, services and the gas market in a customer-oriented manner to promote the carbon-neutral energy and raw material system of the future. Find out more: www.gasgrid.fi/

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