Authorities from Finland and Estonia are investigating the outage of the Estlink 2 underwater power cable, which suffered damage on December 25, 2024. The incident, reported at 12:26 local time, cut off power transmission between the two countries. At the time of interruption, electricity was being transmitted at a rate of 658 megawatts from Finland to Estonia.
Fingrid, the Finnish national grid operator, stated the power cable is currently non-operational and the cause of the damage is uncertain. Arto Pahkin, head of Fingrid's dispatch service, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying, "The possibility of vandalism cannot be excluded. We are looking at the situation as a whole and will inform about the cause of the malfunction when it becomes known." The cable’s disconnection has raised alarms, particularly as many experience increased anxiety over the safety and security of undersea infrastructure.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo addressed the public, assuring them, "Even on Christmas, the authorities are on alert and dealing with the situation." He emphasized there would be no immediate impact on electricity supply for consumers, which helped alleviate some concerns among residents during the holiday season.
This most recent outage adds to the list of troubles faced by underwater cables across the region. Earlier this year, there were similar issues with cables linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania. Authorities are probing whether these issues might be connected to deliberate acts as technical malfunctions are often accompanied by heightened security concerns.
Adding to the mystery is the presence of suspicious activity near the Gulf of Finland. Earlier incidents of damage, such as the Nord Stream pipelines being victim to explosions attributed to sabotage, have heightened fears of potential vandalism. Increased international tension and prior reports linking incidents with vessels—particularly one named Yi Peng 3 associated with China—send shivers down spines of officials who keep watch over such infrastructures.
The Estlink 2 cable has not been the sole target this year. Reports indicate another underwater communication cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden also suffered damage. The Swedish investigative channel has suggested these may be interconnected events needing thorough scrutiny. The increasing number of disturbances prompts serious questioning of whether we are witnessing isolated technical failures or are they part of larger, more sinister patterns.
Echoing concerns from other authorities, Estonian counterpart Elering has not ruled out the possibility of international sabotage, noting, "Authorities have been on edge about undersea infrastructure in the Baltic." The regional governments have been proactive, initiating preliminary investigations as soon as troubles arise, yet the complexity of underwater cable networks poses significant challenges.
The chaotic atmosphere surrounding energy security is palpable; one mishap leads to cascading fears of systemic vulnerability. Following previous damage revelations and the glaring lack of accountability, many observers raise suspicion and doubt about current security measures. The cascading effects reach citizens who rely on these utilities for their day-to-day existence. If neighboring Finland were to falter, what would this mean for the energy policies of our region?
Moving forward, investigations are expected to be comprehensive, but it may take time before the public receives clear answers. Prime Minister Orpo's statements have been aimed at fostering calmness, but time will tell whether vigilance is enough to protect this crumbling infrastructure from becoming fodder for attacks or miscalculations.
Authorities have stated they will keep the public informed as inspections continue and more details about the situation emerge. The incident sheds light on the pressing need for enhanced security protocols and greater international cooperation to protect the energy networks pivotal to Finland and Estonia's futures as energy-hungry nations.
