UK energy firms to assess oil rig security after Nord Stream pipeline leak
British authorities are taking “precautionary” steps to ensure UK oil rigs are not vulnerable to interference after drones were spotted near Norwegian rigs and the Nord Stream pipelines were damaged.
Executives in the energy industry are coordinating efforts with government agencies to assess security arrangements at offshore and onshore sites, to determine whether any best practices employed in other countries, in particular Norway, should be introduced.
If the situation escalates, MI5, the Royal Navy and RAF could be called on to provide support for the industry.
The move comes after multiple gas leaks were discovered in the Nord Stream pipelines that connect Russia and Germany, leaving natural gas pouring into the Baltic Sea.
Sweden found a new leak on Thursday, the fourth discovery of the week. Nato has said the incidents were “deliberate, reckless and irresponsible acts of sabotage”, while Russia has denied it attacked its own pipelines.
On Monday, Norway’s oil safety regulator urged oil companies to be more vigilant over unidentified drones seen flying near Norwegian offshore oil and gas platforms. It warned they could pose a risk of accidents or attacks.
The developments have prompted the UK energy industry and officials to review risks to its sites.
The trade body Offshore Energy (OEUK) said it was in touch with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the matter.
The CPNI, a government agency, is tasked with reducing the vulnerability of key UK assets – including nuclear power stations and data centres – to a variety of threats such as terrorism and sabotage.
Mark Wilson, the safety director at OEUK, said the action was
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