The French Government reaffirms its ‘no’ to proceed with the Spanish-French Midcat gas pipeline project through the Catalan Pyrenees to bring gas from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe. “To increase Interconnection capacity between Spain and Germany It will require substantial strengthening of the French network through France, which will in any case take several years and cost several billion euros. Therefore, it is not a response to the current energy crisis,” he said. Ministry of Energy Transformation this thursday.
Statement by the French Minister of Economy, Bruno LeMaireThis Tuesday sparked optimism in Spain and Germany, where the government showed its willingness to “examine” the possibility of continuing the Midcat gas pipeline project. This morning, President Pedro Sánchez and Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz met near Berlin to, among other things, put pressure on France in favor of the gas connection. And Le Maire, taking advantage of the statements made to the media, responded indifferently hours later: “From the moment the President of the Spanish Government and the Chancellor of Germany requested, from the moment the friends requested, We examine the demands of our friends and partners“Spain and Germany are very close partners of France, so when they make an offer we look into it,” he added.
Such opening demonstrations were hailed as “a very important step” in Spain. “There is a movement in the right direction, showing the will of the French Government to respond from Europe,” to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he said. third vice president Theresa RiveraFollowing the words of the French minister.
But satisfaction lasted very little. In statements to EL PERIÓDICO, close sources Ministry of Energy Transformation They clarified their view: “When we want to accelerate the output of fossil fuels and especially natural gas, this permanent and long-term infrastructure should be built in line with the European strategy, Not available‘ they confirm.
These sources state that the “full and unconditional guarantee of the French authorities” Energy solidarity at the heart of the European project‘ and as proof of that, they remember their extensive use. Interconnections with Belgium and Switzerland and Italy Supplying central and eastern Europe, including Germany. According to data from the Department of Energy Transition, these gas pipelines are at 87% and 97% of their capacity, respectively. But in the case of Spain, the two existing gas pipelines running through the western part of the Pyrenees are not saturated: “They were at 60% of their capacity in terms of exports from France to Spain in August,” these sources reveal. To show that there is still a high potential for upstream gas connection from Spain to France.
The Spanish Government should now examine the scope of French approaches before deciding to intensify greater support on ‘plan B’ to transport greater volumes of gas from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe via an underwater gas pipeline project between Barcelona and Barcelona. The Livorno (Italy) is much later in its design and more expensive than the Midcat.