Estonia Still Maintains Russian Gas Pipeline to Kaliningrad and Weighs Shutting It
A pipeline section on Estonian territory still allows Russia to supply gas to its Kaliningrad region. The Estonian government wants to end the transit, but this requires an agreement with Latvia.
Estonia continues to maintain a section of a Russian natural gas pipeline in Võru County in the country's southeast, which Russia can use to supply its Kaliningrad region (a Russian exclave between Lithuania and Poland), according to the Estonian public broadcaster's portal ERR News. Estonia's prime minister wants to end the transit, but this requires an agreement with Latvia.
About the pipeline
The section in Estonia is 22 kilometres long and consists of two pipes, each 70 centimetres in diameter. The line runs from Russia through the southeastern corner of Estonia, then on through Latvia and Lithuania to Kaliningrad. The section is owned by Elering, Estonia's electricity and gas transmission system operator.
Under an existing agreement, Russia uses it as a backup supply route in case the pipeline running directly through Lithuania, or the floating terminal in Kaliningrad, is not working. Russia needs the gas to run power plants, because the region became an energy-isolated area after the Baltic states disconnected from the Russian electricity grid.
Volumes and political response
In July 2023, half a terawatt-hour of Russian natural gas was delivered through the pipeline, roughly 15% of Estonia's annual consumption. The same amount crossed Estonia in autumn 2024. The newspaper Eesti Ekspress noted that none of the politicians responsible for the sector had known about the agreement in recent years.
After the information was compiled, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said he wants to begin halting the pipeline's operation. He has instructed the Ministry of Climate and its minister Erkki Keldo to reach an agreement with Latvia, where the pipeline's shut-off valve is located, to end gas transit. If no agreement is reached, Estonia could propose national-level sanctions banning gas transit.
Keldo warned that Russia could use the closure in information campaigns against the Baltic states. He said an agreement with Latvia could be reached once a new government has been formed.
No gas is currently flowing through the pipeline, but Russia can still use it. Estonia banned imports of Russian natural gas back in 2022.
