Overview
- Italian broadcaster Rai1 aired photos that show a high‑voltage mast near Terzo di Tolmezzo had been cleanly cut, indicating a deliberate strike on the Transalpine Pipeline’s power supply.
- Grid operator Terna said staff found the damage on March 25th and finished repairs on March 29th, which aligns with a three‑day stop in crude pumping to the line.
- The MiRO and Bayernoil refineries confirmed they ran on local crude reserves for those three days, and fuel at gas stations remained available.
- Investigations are under way, with Italy’s Anti‑Mafia DDA and the Carabinieri reported to be involved and Germany’s federal police in contact with Italian authorities.
- The pipeline carries oil from Trieste across the Alps to refineries in Germany, Austria and Czechia, and a senior German lawmaker urged stronger protection after calling the sabotage a new level of threat.