Latest news with #Estlink2
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Damaged Baltic Sea power cable Estlink 2 seen back in operation late June
STOCKHOLM, May 30 (Reuters) - Finnish power grid operator Fingrid said on Friday it expects the Estlink 2 subsea power cable between Finland and Estonia, which was damaged in December, to return to commercial use on June 25, slightly earlier than seen before. Fingrid, which last month predicted the cable would be back in operation on July 15, said in a statement repair work was progressing faster than expected. Finnish authorities in December seized a ship carrying Russian oil in the Baltic Sea on suspicion it caused the outage by dragging its anchor across the power cable as well as four internet lines.
Reuters
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
On the Baltic Sea, Estonian navy prepared to stop vessels
GULF OF FINLAND, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Estonia's navy is prepared to act against vessels that pose a danger to Baltic Sea infrastructure even if they are in international waters, a senior official patrolling the busy Gulf of Finland shipping lane said on Thursday. The Baltic Sea region is on alert and the NATO alliance has boosted its presence after a series of power cable, telecom and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Most were caused by civilian ships dragging their anchors. While some of the underwater breaches have been ruled accidental, others are still under investigation although no suspects have so far been put on trial. On a cold morning with snowy weather limiting visibility, the mine hunter the Sakala approached a barge, which had a Cypriot flag but appeared to have a Russian name. From a distance of a few hundred metres, it used a camera to zoom in on the vessel's anchors. On this occasion, nothing wrong was detected, and the navy ship continued patrolling the area through which around 500-600 vessels pass every week, many heading to or from Russian ports. "If there is a threat that they are going to break the critical infrastructure, then we are forced to intervene," Estonian navy Deputy Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa said, adding that this would be the case "even in the international waters". He declined to discuss operational details. The patrols began after Finland in December seized an oil tanker suspected of ripping apart the Estlink 2 undersea power cable by dragging its anchor along the seabed, cutting one of the two electricity lines that connect the country with Estonia. To try to deter any future saboteurs, Estonia has since deployed three vessels near the remaining Estlink 1 cable in the busy Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea that at its eastern end stretches into Russian waters. Moscow has denied any involvement in the cable breaches.
Euronews
11-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Electricity prices rise in Estonia after cut from Russian power grid
Following the weekend's cut from the Russian power grid, electricity prices in the Baltic region have started to rise rapidly. This is due to low wind, no sun and the increase in gas prices. Over the weekend, Estonia switched off from the Russian grid and hooked up to the European system. Since then, the price of electricity in Estonia has started to climb. From €126 per MWh last week, the new average electricity price will be €191 per MWh, a high for 2025 so far. Experts say that the price hike is mainly due to the weather and the markets. "Less wind this week, higher electricity consumption due to colder weather and a slight increase in gas price," explains electricity and gas transmission system operator Elering. The price of gas has reached a record high of the last couple of years on the Dutch TTF but is expected to fall. However, there are fewer connections than usual in the Baltic region after leaving the Russian electricity system. The underwater Estlink 2 cable was damaged by an anchor and is out of service. If the Lithuanian-Swedish cable were fully operational, the price would already be significantly cheaper.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Baltic Sea's energy infrastructure is under attack. NATO must act
The European Union and NATO must strengthen cooperation to protect critical energy infrastructure from attacks, which pose a growing threat to European stability. The Kremlin, with its history of weaponizing energy, remains a prime suspect. NATO must properly secure the Baltic Sea — the so-called NATO lake. The Baltic states achieved independence from the post-Soviet energy system in February by connecting to the continental grid via Poland. However, this transition is being overshadowed by a series of incidents in the Baltic Sea, underscoring the urgent need to secure the energy bridge from Poland, known as the LitPol Link. Poland and the Baltic states are ramping up their preparations. Energy ministers from the Baltic states and Poland discussed preparations on Jan. 24 for the synchronization scheduled for Feb. 8-9. They announced plans for joint protection of the infrastructure required for this effort, following multiple incidents in the Baltic Sea. The synchronization will proceed without relying on the Estlink 2 cable, which was damaged in one of these incidents. The meeting in Riga focused on finalizing preparations for synchronization and strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure. 'The damage to the Estlink 2 power cable connecting Finland to Estonia has not impacted the ability of the Baltic states to safely disconnect from the Belarusian and Russian energy system and connect to the European grid,' the ministers concluded. Analyses indicate that the Baltic states have sufficient cross-border capacity through Estlink 1, NordBalt, and LitPol Link to synchronize with Europe without relying on Estlink 2. Synchronization entails disconnecting the Baltic states from the post-Soviet BRELL system — which will continue to include Belarus and Russia — and adapting Baltic energy systems to operate on the continental frequency. The LitPol Link power connection, running through Poland, will facilitate this transition. Synchronizing with the continental grid will eliminate energy exchanges with the BRELL system. This move is particularly significant for Kaliningrad Oblast, which will become an energy island — just as the Baltic states would have been if disconnected from BRELL without European synchronization. 'The resilience and protection of infrastructure have never been more important." However, we cannot be sure that other parts of the critical infrastructure needed for a successful disconnection from the post-Soviet system are safe from malign activity. The Baltic states and Poland are enhancing the security of LitPol Link and other critical infrastructure elements to protect the synchronization process. 'The resilience and protection of infrastructure have never been more important. The Russian Federation is deliberately destroying Ukraine's power grid, and its hybrid activities in the Baltic Sea underscore the importance of a well-secured energy system for defense,' said Krzysztof Bolesta, state secretary at Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment. Poland is also taking lessons from another energy bridge to Lithuania, known as Harmony Link. Rising costs and security considerations led Polish and Lithuanian operators to plan Harmony Link as a subsoil cable instead of the originally proposed sea route. Land-based infrastructure is easier to secure and — more importantly — can be repaired faster. If sabotage damage can be repaired within a few weeks, the act of sabotage loses much of its impact. That is why the news that Finnish telecom company Elisa managed to repair two undersea cables in about two weeks was so encouraging. Another type of threat is emerging as well. Baltic operators have reported the spread of disinformation regarding the synchronization of their energy systems with Europe. 'We urge the public to critically evaluate information, resist emotional opinions, and refrain from spreading unverified reports,' participants of the Riga meeting emphasized. Beyond spreading fear, the enemy may be attempting to promote a false economic narrative — that disconnection from BRELL would significantly increase electricity costs. That narrative is false. According to a study conducted during the preparations, the average increase in energy prices for consumers with an average consumption of 140 kWh per month would be minimal: 50 cents per month in Lithuania, 60 cents in Estonia, and around one euro in Latvia. Relatively speaking, this is not a heavy impact. In return, the Baltic states gain energy independence from the Russian operator and market coupling with Europe, which promotes price decreases. Energy system operators in Poland and the Baltic states have been instructed by their governments to implement an urgent package of measures to enhance the security of critical energy infrastructure. Lithuania's Interior Ministry expedited the strengthening of the LitPol Link cable's protection, advancing the timeline from April to Jan. 15 in response to the severing of the Estlink 2 cable between Finland and Estonia on Dec. 26, 2024. Poland is also taking action. 'Polish Transmission System Operator (PSE) ensures the protection of transmission infrastructure within the Republic of Poland's territory. The company collaborates with relevant national services and institutions, as well as transmission system operators in neighboring countries,' PSE stated in a comment for the Energy Drink podcast. 'Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a state of heightened readiness has been in place, and the infrastructure is continuously monitored, with particular attention given to interconnections with Lithuania, Sweden, and Ukraine. New measures to enhance physical security are also being implemented.' PSE reports ongoing collaboration with operators in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to strengthen regional infrastructure protection. 'Discussions are underway about launching joint projects in this area and securing EU funding for them,' the statement adds. The increasing frequency of attacks on critical infrastructure — such as the recent incident involving the undersea cable between Latvia and Gotland — highlights the difficulty of attributing blame in a complex and interconnected world. Scandinavian media reports suggest it could have been an accident. However, there have been too many such 'accidents' since Russia's unlawful aggression against Ukraine began. The West needs to take the initiative and stop retreating. The EU and NATO must develop new tools and strategies to address these challenges and protect collective security — especially in the Baltic Sea, which must be properly secured as a NATO-controlled waterway. Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Read also: Europe must act on Russian LNG before Trump makes it impossible We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Finland calls for tough action against Russian 'shadow fleet'
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has called for more decisive action against Russia's "shadow fleet" following another incident in which a submarine cable in the Baltic Sea was damaged. "The shadow fleet is the main issue and the main problem we are dealing with, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing investigations related to these cables," Valtonen said on Tuesday during a visit to the Latvian capital Riga. "We have to limit its use," she said about the so-called Russian shadow fleet. This refers to tankers and other cargo ships with opaque ownership structures that Russia uses to circumvent sanctions imposed as a result of its invasion of Ukraine, for example in the transport of oil. Russia's shadow fleet also "poses a risk to the environment and is a proven threat to critical undersea infrastructure," Valtonen said. The European Union has imposed sanctions on dozens of these ships, though the actual size of the fleet is likely to be much larger. In recent weeks, suspected acts of sabotage by the Russian shadow fleet on cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea have repeatedly caused problems. The damage is said to have been deliberately caused using ship anchors. Most recently, an undersea cable running between Sweden and Latvia was damaged at the weekend. The cause is still unclear. Authorities in Stockholm are investigating possible serious sabotage and have seized a suspicious ship. In December, damage was discovered on the Estlink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia, as well as on four communication cables, including a connection between Helsinki and Rostock that had already been severed in a previous incident in November. The oil tanker Eagle S is suspected of having deliberately caused the damage on Christmas Day. "It's about deterrence, it's about reacting at the right moment and quick restoration," Valtonen emphasized.
