MidCat to BarMar: the gas link between Barcelona and Marseille
Plans for a pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille have emerged as a potential, long-range project. Early sketches were already in motion under Enagás, with a hypothesis linking Barcelona to Livorno that would be cut off by a Marseille connection. During a Paris briefing, Teresa Ribera, Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transformation, stated that the assessment period could span four to five years. The remark was shared with reporters as part of ongoing discussions in the Spanish Embassy in Paris.
In Paris on Friday, Ribera met with Bruno Le Maire, France’s Minister of Economy, and Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Energy Transition minister. The meeting followed a Thursday agreement among Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon to advance a cross-border project. An underwater gas pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille, designed to transfer gas and green hydrogen, had just been named BarMar, signaling a clear commitment to a regional energy corridor.
MidCat to BarMar: the core idea of a Barcelona–Marseille gas link
The project is still in its early phases. Ribera used the expression four to five years to describe the timeline, contingent on the collaboration of Portuguese and French partners. A possible start-up around 2030 is being considered as an anchor date. Spain emphasizes its existing knowledge of Enagás’ capacity while underscoring the need for broad cooperation among French and Portuguese stakeholders.
Officials acknowledged uncertainty about total costs, noting that the investment would exceed the roughly 400 million euros allocated for the MidCat facilities within the Iberian zone. There is confidence in presenting a comprehensive plan alongside other participating countries. A blueprint is expected by early December, outlining estimated costs and the startup schedule, while confirming the ability to transport natural gas and, importantly, green hydrogen via the same pipeline.
Spain also indicated Marseille as a potential hub for future French energy infrastructure. A separate study is examining a gas or hydroelectric pathway with Livorno as another possible route, seen as an alternative to MidCat that gained attention in August. BarMar is planned in three segments: the underwater stretch from Barcelona to Marseille, the link from Marseille to a future hydropower network, and a third segment that could connect with Germany if required, though that final connection remains conditional.
Overall, BarMar is framed as a phased project with multiple corridors under consideration, meant to enhance regional energy security and support the transition to green hydrogen alongside traditional gas supplies. The plan envisions a future where the pipeline not only moves gas but also acts as a backbone for hydrogen transport, aligning with broader European decarbonization goals as outlined by the involved governments. The latest statements position BarMar as a catalyst for cross-border cooperation and a test case for integrating hydrogen into cross-national energy infrastructure, subject to the consent and coordination of all participating partners.