Search for damage to Balticconnector gas pipeline starts on Tuesday

TALLINN – A contractor for the Estonian and Finnish gas system operators started on Tuesday to identify the location of the suspected leak in the Balticconnector undersea gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland and the extent of the damage.

The surveys will take place this week. Once the location of the leak has been identified and the extent of the damage is clear, plans for repairing the pipeline can be prepared, Estonian TSO Elering said.

Elering and Finnish system operator Gasgrid Finland closed the Balticconnector on the night between Saturday and Sunday as pressure in it began to drop, suggesting a possible leak.

The shutdown of Balticconnector does not affect the gas supply to Estonian consumers, as gas will be still reaching Estonian consumers from Latvia. Before the closure, the gas flow in Balticconnector was from Finland to Estonia. Most of the gas from Finland moved on to Latvia.

The length of the underwater part of the Balticconnector from Paldiski in Estonia to Inkoo in Finland is 77 kilometers. Balticconnector entered service at the beginning of 2020.