Preliminary work was carried out on the EstLink 2 connection at the beginning of the year. Photo from Baltic Offshore’s vessel in February 2025.
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Repair work on the EstLink 2 electricity transmission connection between Finland and Estonia is scheduled to begin in May, with commercial use expected to resume on 15 July, according to Finnish grid operator Fingrid.
The 650-megawatt submarine cable, which was damaged on Christmas Day 2024, connects the electricity systems of the two countries through the Baltic Sea.
EstLink 2 has been offline since the incident.
Preliminary operations were carried out in February and April to assess the extent of the damage and prepare for full-scale repairs. The damaged section of the cable was excavated and cut out at sea, and the integrity of the remaining cable was verified.
“A new cable is being installed on the seabed to replace the existing one over a distance of approximately one kilometre,” said Kimmo Nepola, unit manager at Fingrid. “Implementing such extensive repair work has required detailed planning and necessitates a specially equipped vessel for the task.”
The work is being conducted in cooperation with the cable manufacturer Nexans, which is responsible for the technical implementation. The aim is to minimise downtime and ensure the restored connection meets operational and safety standards.
Fingrid stated that testing will be carried out after the installation to verify the cable’s functionality. The connection will only return to commercial use after all tests are completed successfully.
The repair of EstLink 2 is considered critical for regional energy security and market integration. The link supports electricity trade between Finland and the Baltic states and plays a role in grid stability across the region.
Fingrid will confirm the return to commercial operation once all technical work and validation procedures are completed.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
