The Estlink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia, which plays a significant role in the electricity trading and supply for both countries, has been disconnected from the grid due to damage detected on Christmas Day.
According to Fingrid, the Finnish transmission system operator, the disconnection occurred precisely at 12:26 PM on December 25, 2023. This incident is currently under investigation, with authorities working to determine the root cause.
Arto Pahkin, Fingrid’s chief supervisor, stated, "Depending on where the fault is, we can determine if it was due to technical issues or external factors." This implies the possibility of external disturbances, particularly as investigators look at the nearby presence of foreign ships during the time the cable failed.
Among the vessels of interest is the cargo ship Xin Xin Tian 2, flying the Hong Kong flag, which was reported to be located at the cable's position around the same time the disconnection was noted. The Finnish police, along with various authorities, are currently exploring whether the actions of this vessel or others played any role in the unexpected outage.
The Estlink 2 cable itself is substantial, stretching 170 kilometers, with 145 kilometers situated beneath the sea. This underwater segment makes repairs challenging, especially when considering previous incidents the cable has faced earlier this year.
"The power flow was 650 MW when the cable was disconnected," Pahkin remarked, emphasizing the significant amount of electricity typically transferred through the line. Despite the cable's failure, he reassured the public of the adequacy of Finland's electricity supply at this moment.
Reigo Kebja, from Elering, Estonia's transmission system operator, added, "We do not yet know how long the repairs will take." He explained the collaborative efforts with Fingrid and other authorities are focused on determining the damage's origin and how soon services could resume.
Past occurrences with the Estlink 2 cable have also raised alarms. It suffered outages earlier this year due to similar issues and was out of service for several months. Kebja noted, "This connection has been susceptible to various faults for different reasons," hinting at the cable's complicated history.
There are public and market concerns about the outage's impact on electricity supply and pricing. Kebja indicated, "If the outage continues, it might influence prices, but there are alternative energy sources available within Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania." This adaptability means Viroland is less likely to face immediate crises even if the Estlink 2 outage persists.
Pahkin underscored the reliability of Finland's electricity supply, stating, "Currently, our electricity consumption can be managed without any issues," highlighting the country's preparedness for such outages.
Meanwhile, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo reassured citizens via social media, confirming, "Authorities are on alert even during the holidays to solve this situation. The disconnection will not affect Finnish electricity supply."
Despite these reassurances, experts anticipate potential fluctuations in electric costs as utilities manage under the changes stemming from the outage.
Fingrid will continue to monitor the developments surrounding Estlink 2 and provide updates to the public as more information becomes available concerning the situation. Until then, authorities will work diligently to understand the cause of this disconnection and restore the line as quickly as possible.
