‘Barcelona-Marseille pipeline is substitute for Italy link’

The underwater gas pipeline between Barcelona and Marseille that was agreed between Spain, France and Portugal on Thursday is an alternative to a link between Spain and Italy that was once considered, Spanish Energy Minister Teresa Ribera said on Friday.

The pipeline, dubbed BarMar, will connect the two ports that both have large oil and gas terminals and will allow the transportation of natural gas and green hydrogen between Spain and France, and pool European liquefied natural gas capacity as the region tries to wean itself off Russian gas following the war in Ukraine, reports Reuters.

The BarMar pipeline will replace a projected land pipeline across the Pyrenean Mountain Range, dubbed MidCat, that was pushed by Spain and opposed by France, leaders of France, Spain and Portugal said on Thursday.

BarMar also replaces a projected underwater pipeline connection between Barcelona and Livorno in Italy on that was considered at some point for the same purpose, Ribera told Antena 3, a Spanish TV station.