EU vows robust response to sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines

BERLIN COPENHAGEN: The European Union promised a robust response to any intentional disruption of its energy infrastructure after saying that it suspected sabotage was behind gas leaks discovered this week on Russian pipelines to Europe.

As gas spewed out under the Baltic Sea for a third day after first being detected, it was not clear who was responsible for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia and European partners spent billions of dollars building.

Russia, which slashed gas deliveries to Europe after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, has also said sabotage is a possibility.

The EU foreign policy chief Borrell said that any disruption of the European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response.

He said the EU believed sabotage was probably the cause, although the EU has not named a potential perpetrator or suggested a motive.

The UN Security Council will convene Friday at the request of Russia to discuss damage to the Nord Stream pipelines, according to the French mission, which holds the presidency of the 15-member council for September.

Russia's embassy in Denmark said that any sabotage of Nord Stream's pipelines was an attack on Russia and Europe's energy security.

The Nord Stream pipelines have been a flashpoint in an escalating energy war between capitals in Europe and Moscow that has damaged major Western economies and sent gas prices going up.

Denmark's defence minister said there was reason to be concerned about the security situation in the region after meeting with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg.

Morten Bodskov said in a statement that Russia has a significant military presence in the Baltic Sea region and we expect them to continue their sabre-rattling.

Norway's prime minister said on Wednesday that its military will be deployed near oil and gas installations, while Denmark is raising its level of preparedness.

Norway's Jonas Gahr Stoere told a news conference that the military will be more visible at Norwegian oil and gas installations.

In the Baltic Sea, gas was still bubbling from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the Swedish Coast Guard said in an email.

The Danish Energy Agency said more than half of the gas in the damaged Nord Stream pipelines had left the pipes and the remaining volume was expected to be gone by Sunday.

The damage could be repaired, according to Jens Schumann, managing director of Gasunie Deutschland.

There are good teams in place to handle pipeline accidents, there are emergency pipe inventories and experts for onshore and offshore, according to Schuman.