Europe embarked on a race to end its dependence on hydrocarbons from Russia. The continent trembles at the possibility of serious supply problems should the Kremlin decide to cut off the gas tap, and new energy map that includes strengthening links between member states and that Spain will have a leading role.
The European Commission and Germany, one of the countries most dependent on Russian gas, have shown their support for the construction of a new gas pipeline between Spain and France that can carry natural gas that will end in Central and Northern Europe. In practice, this means reviving the old MidCat project, which was shut down three years ago, as gas from Spain at the time was considered too expensive for its re-export needs. But geopolitical and economic scenario now it’s very different because of the pulse of Vladimir Putin.
But the project falls under the reluctance of France. Although there is no official official response, the Government of Emmanuel Macron does not consider the project a priority as a solution to the current crisis and warns of its economic and environmental cost (it also warns that it does not fit France’s strategic commitment to promote nuclear as a major industrial nation) ).
The Spanish government wants the direct involvement of Germany and Brussels to put pressure on Paris and bring the project to life, but given the possibility that France will not change its position, President Pedro Sánchez and several of his ministers have winged an agreement. alternative plan. “If plan A doesn’t go ahead, we’ll have to look for plan B,” warned Sánchez this week. Plan B includes building an underwater gas pipeline between Spain and northern Italy and supplying it from there to the rest of Europe.
The fact is that the project Connecting Barcelona and Livorno gas power plants with a gas pipeline It was already listed as one of the alternatives by the European Commission in RePowerEU, its strategy to protect itself against the threat of supply disruptions from Russia, as well as in the Spanish gas system and gas system manager’s new Enagás strategic plan. The gas pipeline network was presented a little over a month ago. The commitment to connect Spain and Italy is taking shape, although the Spanish Government prefers to prioritize the tube over France, as it is the simplest and cheapest option.
Enagás and his Italian colleague Snam completed the technical feasibility study of the project, Work began last May. If the final details of the report are not known, initial estimates approximate joint investments. 3,000 million euros to build an underwater tube of approximately 800 kilometersIt would be operational in 2028 and used to transport green hydrogen in 2039. The tube will be capable of handling 10,000 million cubic meters of gas (10 bcm) per year, with the possibility of increasing this to 15,000. Spain will double or even triple its current export capacity per cylinder.
Three new gas pipelines?
Enagás’ new strategic plan until 2030 includes not only designing the construction of a gas pipeline with Italy – if it receives EU approval and financial support – but also Italy. The connection with France is doubtful because of the reluctance of the Gallic Government and the reluctance of Portugal and one another. The major interconnection projects proposed by Enagás are part of the Brussels-sponsored RePowerEU program to gradually reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas until it is completely eliminated.
This is a third link with France, which has undertaken the old MidCat project, which the company will undertake with an investment of 370 million; a third link with Portugal with a planned investment of 90 million; and the construction of a new underwater gas pipeline with Italy of 1,500 million, half of the total investment required.
Three new interconnection projects for Spain, designed by Enagás, focusing on a total investment of 1,980 million without including subsidies or possible non-recourse financing, are under study and analysis and need to be approved by the European Union, in a predictable manner. 2024 or 2025. “I believe that these infrastructures will be established. Europe needs them,” he said. Gonzalo Aizpiri, CEO of Enagáslast July.
The French option, as highlighted by the Government, is cheaper, technically simpler as it is not underwater, and also faster to activate. Teresa Ribera, vice president and Minister of Ecological Transition, insists that the Spanish portion of MidCat (nearly 200 kilometers from Hostalric in Girona to get the pipe to the French border) could be finished in eight or nine. months and said the infrastructure is active for the winter of 2023-2024.
More exports
According to figures from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Spain already re-exports 20 percent of all gas reaching the country, Also using methane tankers via gas pipelines with France, or in the form of electricity (due to the generation of electrical energy sent to France, due to the shutdown of its nuclear power plants, using gas power plants in Spain).
Spain has the capacity to further increase gas exports to Europe, if necessary. According to data processed by Enagás, the Spanish gas system is able to export 7 million cubic meters (7 billion cubic meters) of gas per year to the continent via two gas pipelines with France, and is currently capable of sending another 4 billion cubic meters by ship from Turkey. regasification plants.
But if you put regasifiers At maximum performance, almost 10 more bcm could be added and the amount diverted to other European countries could increase to 20 bcm each year (about 13% of the volume of gas Europe buys from Russia). In addition, in the coming months, the hitherto defunct Asturian El Musel plant will be activated to be used as a logistics warehouse for re-export, which could increase Spain’s capacity to deliver gas to Europe by another 8 billion cubic meters.