African gas to Europe via Catalonia's unfinished MidCat pipeline
Construction halted after France's opposition could be recovered if political will
Construction halted after France's opposition could be recovered if political will
EU leaves decision to "concerned member states" as infrastructure not of "common interest" for Europe
MidCat, an infrastructure dropped halfway its construction, is supported by Catalan, Spanish and German governments
MidCat pipeline did not respond to "market needs" and was too costly, they say
,
Midi-Catalonia interconnector did not respond to “market needs” and was too costly, according to them
Spanish government and EU have to decide whether to resume major infrastructure project passing through middle of Catalonia
A strategic gas pipeline is to be built through the Catalan Pyrenees, linking the Iberian Peninsula with France and Central Europe. The Midcat project aims to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas by 40%, diversifying the sources of supply. The pipeline should be operational by 2020, announced on Thursday the Spanish Minister for Industry, José Manuel Soria. The day before, French President, François Hollande, Spanish PM, Mariano Rajoy, Portuguese PM, Pedro Passos Coelho, and European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, re-launched the project's construction. Midcat started to be planned in 2007 but it was halted for several years, mainly due to a lack of interest from French companies and institutions, which were not guaranteeing to build their part. Now, the crisis with Russia has reignited the urge to find alternative gas suppliers for Central Europe.
The Catalan company has signed an agreement with the Shah Deniz consortium for a 25-year period. The Azerbaijani company will supply 1bcm of natural gas per year. The agreement is conditional on the final decision on the project investment, a step planned for later this year. The development of this project will open a new supply route to Europe through the ‘Southern Corridor’, which will allow Europe to access gas reserves in the Caspian Sea area. Barcelona-based Gas Natural Fenosa will receive the gas in facilities based in Italy, one end of the European gas pipeline passing through Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania, and crossing the Adriatic Sea. The Catalan company said that this supply will consolidate its presence and strengthen its gas supply business in Italy.
Catalonia is the territory with the largest consumption of gas within the Spanish state, with 19% of the total