Swedish prosecutors stated on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, that they would cease their investigation into explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, opting to hand over the uncovered evidence to German investigators.
“The conclusion of the investigation is that Swedish jurisdiction does not apply, and that the investigation therefore should be closed,” affirmed the Swedish Prosecution Authority in a statement.
The Nord Stream pipelines, carrying Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea, incurred damage from a series of blasts in the Swedish and Danish economic zones in September 2022, leading to the release of significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere.
According to researchers at GHGSat, a company utilizing satellites to monitor methane emissions, one of the four rupture points was leaking methane at a rate of 22,920 kilograms per hour. GHGSat estimated that this amount of methane emission is equivalent to burning about 630,000 pounds of coal every hour.
Danish police reported that the pipelines experienced powerful explosions, and Swedish investigators confirmed the presence of explosives on-site, definitively indicating sabotage.
Sweden, Denmark, and Germany initiated independent investigations into the Nord Stream blasts, with each nation guarding information. The Danish and German probes are currently ongoing.
“As part of this legal collaboration, we have been able to provide material that can serve as evidence in the German investigation,” stated the Swedish prosecution authority.
After a thorough investigation, Swedish prosecutors determined that there is no evidence suggesting Sweden or Swedish citizens were involved in the attack, which occurred “in international waters.”
Public Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said in a statement, “Against the background of the situation we now have, we can state that Swedish jurisdiction does not apply.”
Russia has accused the United States, Britain, and Ukraine of being responsible for the explosions, which severely disrupted its access to the profitable European market.
Previously, Russia alleged that the United States would gain from attacks on Europe’s energy infrastructure.
President Vladimir Putin said, “The sanctions were not enough for the Anglo-Saxons: they moved onto sabotage. it is hard to believe but it is a fact that they organized the blasts on the Nord Stream international gas pipelines.”
According to Putin, these actions indicate an attempt to dismantle the pan-European energy infrastructure.
He stated, “It is clear to everyone who benefits from this. Of course, he who benefits did it.” However, those countries implicated have denied any involvement.
If neither of the ongoing investigations yields conclusive evidence, the mystery surrounding one of the most significant acts of infrastructure sabotage in modern history might remain unresolved.
European Union Energy Transition Plan
EU countries might soon have the ability to cease their final imports of Russian gas under proposals aimed at prohibiting Russian energy firms from accessing their pipelines and terminals.
The European Council and Parliament have reached a consensus on new regulations that could grant EU member states the authority to clamp down on companies from Russia and Belarus.
These companies have continued to import Russian gas into Europe by purchasing import capacity at crucial EU import terminals and pipelines despite Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The provisional agreement is anticipated to be ratified and adopted by both institutions, representing the final stage in the legislative process before the proposals are presented for a vote by Members of the European Parliament later this year.
The European Council stated that the proposals are designed to safeguard the “essential security interests” of EU member states, while also considering objectives related to supply security and diversification.
If officially endorsed, the proposed legislation would enable the owners of gas import infrastructure within the EU to disassociate themselves from companies that continue to import Russian gas, all without incurring significant financial penalties for contract breaches.
Moreover, these new regulations would facilitate the EU’s efforts to diminish its final gas imports from Russia. Russia had been Europe’s primary gas supplier for decades before the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022.
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