Professional sabotage against Italian oil pipeline

The attack forced Germany’s largest refineries to empty their reserves to avoid total shutdown. As similar attacks escalate both in Europe and globally, suspicions grow that a coordinated “hidden hand” is deliberately driving a global energy crisis.

The sabotage occurred on March 25 and targeted the electricity supply at a pumping station near Terzo di Tolmezzo in the Italian Alps. The damage caused a temporary halt to crude oil supplies via the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), which had direct consequences for German industry.

According to reports, Germany’s largest refinery, MiRO (Mineraloelraffinerie Oberrhein), located in Karlsruhe in southwestern Germany, was primarily affected, and was without raw material supplies for several days. A refinery in Bavaria was also affected by the disruptions and was forced to cover the shortage by using its internal reserves.

Strategically important MiRO. Mineraloelraffinerie Oberrhein (Upper Rhine Mineral Oil Refinery) in Karlsruhe is Germany’s largest oil refinery with a processing capacity of around 15 million tonnes of crude oil per year. The plant serves as a central energy hub, supplying over 10 million people and covering almost half of the energy needs of the state of Baden-Württemberg. With 1,100 employees, the refinery is one of the most modern in Europe and a cornerstone of Germany’s fuel supply – but the plant is also critically dependent on supplies via the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL). Photo: Conscia

In this analysis, we take a closer look at this attack – which has largely been passed over in silence by the establishment and its media – and how it forms part of an emerging global pattern of widespread and escalating attacks on our energy security.

Italian authorities have informed Germany of the incident, and German law enforcement authorities are now investigating the circumstances in cooperation with their Italian colleagues. The German Federal Criminal Police (BKA) has been called in to assist in the work. Neither suspects nor a confirmed motive for the attack were available at the time of going to press, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Strategic pipeline. Map of the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) connecting the Italian port of Trieste with industrial centers in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. The thick orange line with arrows shows the flow to Germany’s largest refinery MiRO in Karlsruhe. Marking (orange) with the words “Ausfall der Pumpstation” shows the location of the sabotaged pumping station. Map: Welt

The attack was extremely precise. Instead of destroying the pumping station itself, the perpetrators instead cut the power line to it. They used a cutting torch to cut two of the poles’ legs in a way that would cause a gradual collapse rather than an immediate fall, giving them plenty of time to escape. This suggests technical expertise more associated with special forces or intelligence agencies than with ordinary activists. Therefore, investigators suspect a state actor or at least professionals hired by an unknown party.

Mysterious circumstances

The investigation, led by the Italian Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (DDA) in collaboration with the BKA, is facing several puzzling circumstances. There are two factors in particular that make experts suspect that this is a very sophisticated actor:

1. Total lack of digital traces: Despite the area being difficult to access, the perpetrators managed to navigate the wooded terrain and carry out the sabotage without being caught on a single surveillance camera or leaving any digital footprints behind.
2. Strategic targeting: Rather than carrying out a spectacular explosion of the pipeline itself – which would have made immediate headlines – the perpetrators chose to discreetly knock out the power supply. This cut off the oil flow just as effectively but “silently”, suggesting a great deal of knowledge about how the infrastructure works.

Growing concerns about energy infrastructure in Europe

The incident follows a series of recent arson attacks in France that damaged electrical infrastructure and disrupted operations at several arms companies, including those that left more than 3,000 homes without power, and affected arms giants such as MBDA and KNDS – which manufacture ammunition and Caesar artillery systems.

Global pattern

There have been a number of similar attacks around the world recently. One example is Pakistan, which has suffered both direct attacks and an acute deepening of its energy crisis as a result of the unrest in the Middle East. Islamabad has recently been in the media spotlight as it initiated and led peace negotiations between the US and Iran, something that has irritated Israel, which has done everything it can to sabotage these peace efforts.

In the 24 hours between 14 and 15 April alone, several attacks were carried out in the country. On 14 April, the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) blew up a main gas pipeline in the Hassankhel area. The pipeline transports gas from Kohat to Punjab, and the attack has caused major disruptions in supply.

The day before, a gas worker belonging to a local gas company was kidnapped by the same group. During the past few days, several members of the security forces were killed and injured. The TTP has previously been involved in attacks and terrorist acts that have raised questions about who is behind or using them.

On April 15, the Pakistani government announced that it would be forced to introduce rolling power cuts of at least 2.25 hours per day during the evening. This applies to the entire country except for Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, which is exempt from these scheduled outages. This is because the city has access to cheaper locally produced electricity that is not as affected by the high import prices of fuel. However, the capital, Islamabad, is affected. The outages in rural areas can also last up to 16 hours per day.

Deliberately caused energy crisis?

Alongside the escalating sabotage in Europe and around the world, we see how Russia and Ukraine prioritize attacks on each other’s energy facilities and infrastructure. Russian tankers are being attacked both in and outside the Black Sea and are also being hijacked on the world’s oceans by various Western nations.

We see the same pattern in the conflict around Iran, where over a dozen countries have been subjected to extensive attacks on their infrastructure by the parties involved. In addition, several mysterious attacks by unknown actors have occurred against energy targets in Azerbaijan and Turkey, among others. Saudi Arabia has in turn arrested people it describes as “Mossad agents”, while Iran has denied that they are behind several of the attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.

Overall, a disturbing picture is painted, where the global energy supply appears to be under attack by hidden actors. It is often said that the motives reveal the perpetrator. In a situation where energy security is threatened, not only is our standard of living at risk, but also, in the long term, global food security.