The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Thursday it was 'very obvious' who was responsible for the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines that resulted in significant leaks into the Baltic Sea.
'It is not yet known who made it, who is behind this sabotage, there is still discussion more or less,” Fatih Birol told a conference in Paris, without naming the alleged perpetrators.
However, he added that it was “very obvious (...) who was behind this issue.”
Four leaks in the Russian-owned Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were reported off the coast of Denmark and Sweden, and a warning was given that ships should not approach the area.
Both Denmark and Sweden and the EU reported that signs showed the leaks were the result of deliberate activity and not accidental.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline has been offline since Aug. 31 as Russia stopped natural gas deliveries through the pipeline due to “maintenance works.”
Although the causes of the leaks are still under investigation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refuted allegations that Russia may be behind the sabotage.
He described the incident as “a big problem for Russia” and pointed to the speech by US President Joe Biden on Feb. 7, who spoke of the necessity 'to get rid of Nord Stream 2 pipeline.'
'Do you remember the statements of the US president, which were made back in early February? Who promised then to get rid of the Nord Stream 2? What the US president meant, we do not know,' he said.
By Sibel Morrow
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr