Berlin believes explosions affected both Nord Stream 2 pipes

The German government thinks it is unlikely that one of the two pipes of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea is still completely intact after a blast hit the undersea pipeline in September, reported dpa.

"It's very likely that the act of sabotage with strong explosions had a negative impact on both pipeline routes and that the basic technical accessibility is therefore no longer guaranteed," the government said in response to a parliamentary inquiry by the far-right opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Unexplained blasts in late September caused four gas leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea - two in Swedish waters and two in Danish waters.

Natural gas - composed mostly of planet-warming methane - rapidly escaped, even though neither pipeline was actually delivering gas amid an energy stand-off between the EU and Russia.

Many analysts have argued that the blast was intentional and some have said it could have been a Russian act.

Moscow denies being behind the incident and has suggested the United States would have the most to benefit from an attack on the energy infrastructure.

The AfD has been advocating for starting up Nord Stream 2 after the government coalition led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz decided not to put the new pipeline into operation to reduce its energy dependency on Russia.

In its response to the inquiry, the German government pointed out that, regardless of the blast, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline hadn't received the certification necessary for operation and would not be used in the future.