Recurring Troubles with Baltic Sea Cable

The Baltic Sea cable EstLink 2, which connects Finland and Estonia, has experienced another disruption. The Finnish grid operator, Fingrid, and the Estonian grid operator, Elering, are currently investigating the cause of this latest incident. While sabotage has not been ruled out, the exact reason for the disturbance remains unclear. This is not the first time EstLink 2 has faced issues; it was previously out of service from January to September 2024 due to a short circuit.

The situation has drawn attention following previous incidents involving telecommunications cables between Germany and Finland, as well as Sweden and Lithuania. In those cases, a Chinese cargo ship was suspected, although Russia has dismissed sabotage allegations as "absurd." Despite the current disruption, Estonia's electricity supply remains stable, and Finland has not reported any negative impact on its power system.

Undersea cables like EstLink 2 are considered critical infrastructure and are vulnerable to military operations or accidental damage, such as from ship anchors. These concerns have led to investigations by Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland has emphasized the importance of resolving the issue promptly.

The capacity of EstLink 2 has been significantly reduced from 1,016 megawatts to 358 megawatts as a precaution. While the power supply is unaffected for now, the situation highlights the ongoing vulnerability of crucial undersea infrastructure, prompting authorities to take potential security threats seriously.