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Replacing plans to extend the so-called MidCat pipeline across the Pyrenees, previously opposed by France, Spain and Portugal, they announced they will build an ocean-based pipeline to transport hydrogen and gas between Barcelona and Marseille.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said the pipeline, also known as BarMar, will help pump green hydrogen and other renewable gases, as well as temporarily enable the transport of a “limited amount” of natural gas, to help ease Europe’s energy crisis.
As Russia has gradually cut gas flows after the West imposed sanctions in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February, Europe has struggled to secure alternative energy supplies.
After a meeting this week with the three leaders in Brussels, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that the pipeline “is a response to calls for solidarity from our European partners, in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s blackmail.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also said it is “obligatory that Europe remains united”.
BarMar effectively closes a gap between Spain and Portugal, which wanted to extend the MidCat pipeline to Central Europe, but France argued that the pipeline would take too long to build to solve short-term supply problems.
“It’s good news, one of Europe’s oldest blockades has been overcome,” Costa said.
In a joint announcement, Spain and France also agreed to speed up the construction of an electricity link through the Bay of Biscay and to identify and work on other links between the two national grids.
The leaders of the three countries will meet again on December 9 in Alicante, Spain, to decide on a timeline for construction and how it will be financed.
