The broken Estlink 2 submarine cable connecting Finland and Estonia will probably not be restored for several months, its operator - the Finnish company Fingrid - announced. The technical problem could lead to serious consequences, especially during the winter season, when electricity consumption is particularly high. The cable is 170 km long and has a capacity of 658 megawatts (MW), BTA reports.
Emergency government meetings
In response to the situation, the governments of Finland and Estonia will hold emergency meetings to assess the seriousness of the incident and the possible consequences for the electricity supply in the region.
Investigation into possible ship involvement
Finnish police are investigating whether the incident is linked to a passing foreign ship, possibly part of Russia's so-called “shadow fleet“ involved in illegal oil trade. This adds an additional element of geopolitical tension to the problem.
Winter power supply risks
The Estlink 2 disruption could pose significant challenges to the power supply of the two Baltic regions, especially during the cold months. Restoring the infrastructure will be critical to ensuring stability in energy supplies.