HE The European energy system suffered a historic shock It was fueled by the geopolitical and economic earthquake caused by Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. As all of Europe maneuvered to reduce its dependence on Russian gas as much as possible, Spain became a key player in securing continental supplies and found itself a major European center for re-export gas.
Spain is making the most of its extensive network of regasification plants that ship and ship gas, and gas pipeline connections with Europe. gas sales to other countries. Last year the Spanish gas system was able to lead gas exports to the EU again and now accelerating towards another record year with new increases in gas shipments.
Re-export of gas from Spain Jumped another 49.7% between January and June That’s close to 45,000 equivalent gigawatt hours (GWh) this year, coming from last year’s record levels, according to records from Strategic Reserves Corporation (Cores). Shipments are both via gas pipelines to France, Portugal and now Morocco (up 53% to 33,100 GWh, three quarters of the total) and from regasification plants using methane tankers (up 40%, around 11,900 GWh).
Spain re-exported 22% of all gas arriving in the country this year (By June, imports reached 204,700 GWh, down 9.7 percent year on year). This European countries main target It has intensified 85% of sales so far this year (in line with the 86% represented by flows to Europe last year, and well above the 65% recorded in 2021, before the worst of the energy crisis). ).
Just last year, Spain succeeded in accelerating the resale of gas to other countries and nearly doubled its re-export activity, reaching an all-time high of 68,200 GWh with a growth of 91%. ongoing market turmoil it has to guarantee the supply Amid geopolitical tensions, he predicts the Spanish gas system will set a new record this year.
LNG explosion
As the Kremlin cut off pipeline gas shipments to Europe as part of the crusader retaliatory game against the war, European countries took action. search for other providers all over the world. And for that you need shipping by ship It is in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported in liquid and frozen form. Spain is making the most of its network of six regasification plants, concentrating 33% of the entire European Union’s regasification capacity and 44% of LNG storage on the continent. major European ‘centre’ for arrival and re-export from the gas.
According to data handled by the gas system operator, Enagás, Spain could export 8,500 million cubic meters (8.5 billion cubic meters) of gas per year to the continent via two gas pipelines with France, following the capacity increase it launched in November. New compressor in Irún and currently capable of sending another 4 billion cubic meters by ship from regasification plants. However, if the regasifiers are brought to maximum performance, almost 10 additional bcm can be added. In addition, Enagás has commissioned the Asturias El Musel facility to be used as a re-export logistics warehouse, meaning a potential increase in Spain’s gas transport capacity to Europe by another 8 billion cubic meters.