The Balticconector pipeline between Estonia and Finland has been out of commission since sustaining damage in early October last year. Finnish state-owned company Gasgrid on Friday announced plans to have the pipeline back in action by late April.
"Preparations for the repair of the Balticconnector offshore pipeline have progressed according to plan in cooperation with Gasgrid and [Estonian operator] Elering," Gasgrid said in a press release on Friday.
Repair work at sea in the Gulf of Finland is slated for early March, with the pipeline set to be recommissioned on 22 April, 2024.
"The planned duration of the repair works is approximately four weeks, after which an inspection can be carried out, and the pipeline can be recommissioned," said the company.
However, any deterioration in weather conditions could cause delays, according to the release.
Balticconector pipeline damage
The Balticconnector marine gas pipeline opened in 2020. Linking Inkoo (known as Ingå in Swedish), Finland, with Paldiski, Estonia, it enabled Finland to reduce its dependency on imports from Russia.
The pipeline was damaged in suspicious circumstances on 8 October, 2023. Subsequent investigations suggested that a Hong Kong flagged Chinese vessel's dropped anchor was behind the subsequent leak.
Finnish investigators have said the damage may have been an act of sabotage, though they have yet to conclude whether it was an accident or a deliberate act.
Joint investigations involving Finland, Estonia and China are ongoing.
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