NATO: Russian sabotage poses a threat to energy infrastructure

Possible sabotage by Russia poses a clear threat to European energy infrastructure, according to a NATO cyber security official. He said that attacks had been carried out in the past in which attempts were made to infect control systems with malware. The protection of European energy infrastructure came to the fore after damage to the Nord Stream and Balticconnector pipelines.

"Russia has spent decades mapping critical... undersea cables and pipelines that we depend on," said James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber.

Appathurai added that significant resources had been devoted to this activity and that Russia was continuing it. Alongside the physical threat, cyber threats are also a concern: he said that cyberattacks in the form of ransomware had masked attempts to infect control systems with malware. Undetected malware could then be activated in the future.

Norway is also paying more attention to security

According to Olav Aamlid Syversen, head of Equinor's Brussels office, it had not always been possible to protect all 9000 km of gas pipeline infrastructure in the North Sea. According to Montel, Equinor had faced attacks on infrastructure belonging to the Southern Gas Corridor, where it is a partner or which it uses. There had also been terrorist attacks on assets in Algeria.

"You have to start thinking about very, very critical elements... and how to work with different partners to strengthen their protection," Syversen said.

Syversen added that the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines were much closer to infrastructure in the North Sea, where most of the company's assets are located. He said that Norway subsequently stepped up protection both at the national level and through private energy companies.