On December 25, the Estlink 2 power cable, linking Finland and Estonia, experienced a significant outage, raising concerns about possible vandalism. According to Fingrid, the Finnish transmission system operator, the interruption occurred at 12:26 PM on Christmas Day, halting the electricity flow of 658 megawatts from Finland to Estonia.
"We cannot rule out the possibility of vandalism. But right now we are looking at the situation as a whole and will report the cause of the failure when we find out what it is," stated Arto Pahkin from Fingrid in their press release.
The disconnection has prompted immediate investigation efforts, where Fingrid has dispatched personnel to various locations including the substation and the underwater cable. A comprehensive examination is underway to determine not only the cause of the outage but also how long it might take to restore services. Pahkin confirmed the complexity of the investigation, saying, "Some staff have been sent to the substation, some are investigating the underwater cable. We are exploring situations both in Finland and Estonia." It is estimated finding the malfunction could take several hours.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo took to social media to assure Finnish citizens, emphasizing, "The disconnection will not affect the electricity supply to Finns; authorities are vigilant and investigating this matter." His comments reflect efforts to maintain public confidence during the unexpected interruption.
Though Estlink 2 remains offline, Estlink 1, the other cable connecting the two nations, continues to operate normally. The operational capacity of Estlink 1 stands at 350 megawatts, considerably lower than Estlink 2, making the latter's restoration pivotal for ensuring adequate supply between the two countries.
Fingrid is acutely aware of the role Estlink 2 plays within the broader European energy system. "Estlink 2 is also important as are all border connections. It is important for the operation of the European energy system to have all connections operational," Pahkin added.
This incident is not the first disruption for Estlink 2, as it underwent repairs for several months earlier this year. The cable spans over 170 km, with nearly 145 km located on the seabed, making its maintenance and functionality significant not just for Finland and Estonia, but for the regional energy network.
The outage also has market ramifications. According to Jukka Relander of Finnish Energy, there may be minor fluctuations to electricity prices due to the situation, but he reassured, "At the moment this does not concern us; sometimes there are cases when electricity is imported from Estonia, but this is more of an export cable now.”
While the exact reasons behind the cable's failure remain uncertain, the fact it coincided with the presence of maritime traffic, particularly the container ship Xin Xin Tian 2 from Hong Kong, near the cable area, raises eyebrows and adds to the investigation's complexity.
Investigators are now left to sift through possibilities to ascertain what transpired during the outage. While no immediate effects on Finland's electricity supply have been reported, the authorities remain prepared and continue to follow leads as they assess the situation.
With the investigation still underway, updates will be forthcoming as Fingrid works diligently to restore the connection and analyze what has been deemed as potentially criminal activity affecting one of Finland's key energy lifelines.
