After China admitted that the Newnew Polar Bear ship severed the Balticconnector pipeline, Finland and Estonia announced they would announce the results of the investigation into this gas pipeline incident in the fall.
Finland and Estonia will present the results of the investigation into the circumstances and causes of the Balticconnector gas pipeline rupture as early as autumn; Cooperation with China continues, senior investigator Risto Lohi of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation informed.
"Finnish and Estonian authorities are cooperating with Chinese authorities on this case. Documents have been exchanged and there is progress in the investigation process" - Helsingin Sanomat newspaper quoted Mr. Risto Lohi.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation will not comment on the stages of the investigation, Helsingin Sanomat's bulletin on the investigation into the Balticconnector pipeline rupture states.
China admitted that the Newnew Polar Bear ship owned by its enterprise had severed the Balticconnector gas pipeline. China said the incident with the Baltic gas pipeline was an accident, caused by a major storm.
The information was published by SCMP newspaper on the evening of August 12, citing 2 well-informed sources. Sources said that after the investigation, China informed the Finnish and Estonian authorities of the results.
Finnish newspaper YLE said that the report of Chinese investigators admitting that the Newnew Polar Bear ship was responsible for the Balticconnector gas pipeline rupture cannot be used as evidence in investigations by other countries. Baltic region .
Kairi Kungas - head of the public relations department of the Estonian prosecutor's office - emphasized, "in any case, this report cannot be used as evidence in Estonia's criminal investigation" because of gender. Chinese officials did not invite Estonian investigators to participate in the investigation.
Similarly, Anna Zareff - spokesperson for the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) - noted that the investigation into Finland 's Balticconnector pipeline rupture is still ongoing.
"During the investigation, there has been cooperation with Chinese authorities, including requests for legal assistance. It should be noted that the investigation is still ongoing and the final conclusion of the case can only be issued after all necessary investigative measures have been completed. This will take some time," she said.
According to Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, the investigation into the Baltic pipeline break is still ongoing, which is why she did not comment on the details of the incident. Ms. Valtonen's special adviser told Finnish news agency STT that Finland is continuously cooperating and exchanging information with China about the incident.
The underground gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia stopped operating last October due to a suspected leak. Finnish authorities announced on October 10, 2023 that the damaged pipeline was discovered in the early morning of October 9 with clear traces caused by external impact. After that, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had contacts through diplomatic channels with Russia and China about the Balticconnector pipeline rupture.
The Balticconnector pipeline has a total length of 151km, including 77km on the seabed in the Gulf of Finland. The underground part of the pipeline connects the city of Inkoo (Uusimaa region, southern Finland) and Paldiski (Harjumaa district, northern Estonia). The capacity of the Balticconnector pipeline is 2.6 billion m3 of gas per year. Gas flows through a single pipeline in both north and south directions.
