An underwater power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, known as Estlink 2, experienced an unplanned outage on Christmas Day, prompting immediate investigations by authorities from both countries. The incident occurred at 12:26 PM, with the connection at the time transmitting 658 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The interruption raised concerns over potential causes, with some officials not ruling out terrorism or sabotage as factors.
Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, quickly addressed the issue, assuring the public on X (formerly Twitter): "The power outage will not affect the electricity supply of Finns." His reassurances came alongside the confirmation from the power operator Fingrid, stating they are investigating the cause of the outage. At the same time, Estlink 1, another cable connecting the countries, remained operational, ensuring some continuity of electricity supply.
According to Fingrid, the discovery of the outage and subsequent reduction of capacity were alarming, drawing attention to the potential vulnerabilities of undersea power cables. Reports by Iltalehti highlighted many inquiries being raised post-incident, especially concerning the presence of two ships near the cable when the disruption took place. Among these was the Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel, Xin Xin Tian 2, suspected of being close to the cable at the time of the outage.
"We have multiple lines of inquiry from sabotage to technical failure and nothing is being ruled out," noted Fingrid's control room manager, Arto Pahkin. Authorities are using marine traffic monitoring services to track vessels' movements, including the Xin Xin Tian 2, which departed from St. Petersburg on Christmas Eve and was headed to Port Said, Egypt. The investigation will encompass the position of this ship and any connection it might have to the incident.
Finland and Estonia jointly own the Estlink connections, with Estlink 2 being particularly notable for its substantial capacity of 1,016 MW. The cable, routed 170 kilometers across the seabed, was completed and began operations approximately ten years ago. The importance of maintaining operational undersea cables cannot be understated, especially as recent years have witnessed several other disruptions to power and communication cables across the Baltic Sea, amplifying worries over national security.
After the outage, Fingrid has released statements indicating efforts to test substations on both sides of the cable. According to reports, testing of these stations commenced on December 26, aiming to identify if the fault lies within the cable or more centrally located equipment. No abnormalities were detected at the substations, leading to increased scrutiny on the undersea cable itself.
Despite the sensitive nature of the investigation, authorities remained calm and operational. PM Orpo reiterated the need for vigilance, noting on social media: "Even at Christmas, the authorities are on standby to investigate the matter." The proactive stance of the government and Fingrid reflects the increasing concerns about the security of infrastructure, especially as international relations remain unsettled and cases of potential sabotage rise across Europe.
The interconnectedness of energy supply between the two nations emphasizes the necessity for safe and unobstructed power transmission. Energy experts have also pointed to the region's reliance on these undersea cables, highlighting how any long-lasting outages could pose significant risks to energy security and economic stability, particularly during peak demand periods like Christmas.
Fingrid and its Estonian counterpart, Elering, are expected to keep the public updated on their investigation and subsequent findings. They assured the authorities would employ all resources necessary to recover the lost production capacity as swiftly as possible. Elering also stated they would substitute power through backup generation facilities to prevent service disruptions during the investigation.
Estlink 2 had previously faced outages earlier this year due to technical issues, which were traced back to cable faults. Those repairs took several months as they replaced damaged sections of the cable. Historical data now plays a significant role, as both operators are reviewing past incidents to assess any correlations or preventions for the current situation and future vulnerabilities.
Looking onward, the energy market will closely observe the situation as investigations reveal information about the extent and causes of the outage. Renewed security measures may be implemented if foul play is established as the origin of this issue. For now, the focus remains on restoring service and ensuring the security of the electricity supply for both countries involved.
