The governments of France, Spain and Portugal have agreed to build a sea-based pipeline to carry hydrogen and gas between Barcelona and Marseille, substituting plans to extend the so-called MidCat pipeline across the Pyrenees – which France opposed.
The route will mainly be used to pump green hydrogen and other renewable gases but will also temporarily allow for the transportation of a limited amount of natural gas to help alleviate Europe’s energy crisis, according to Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa..
Spain and France have also agreed to speed up an electricity interconnection through the Bay of Biscay and identify and work on the other connections between the two national grids, according to a joint statement.
The leaders of the three countries will meet again in December to decide on a construction timeline and how it will be financed.