Deputy General Director of the National Energy Institute Alexander Frolov told RBC that he regards this idea as ridiculous. According to him, the materials voiced in the article are divided into two large parts.
“The first part is a practically unrealizable gas pipeline from Algeria. Unrealizable, because Algeria does not have additional capacities with which it could fill this gas pipeline. And the second option is the regasification of LNG entering Spain so that this LNG is transferred further through the territory of France, Germany to the countries of Central Europe – this is a funny option, but it has been buried a long time ago, ”Frolov noted.
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He explained that Spain now has the largest number of regasification terminals in Europe and their average load is about 50%. Half of the capacities are underutilized. “Globally, the problem associated with underloading has not been resolved. The rest of the countries of the European Union reacted with bewilderment to this proposal, because they also have terminals: France, Portugal. They were not interested in solving the problems of Spain at their expense. It will not be interesting even now, ”the expert believes.
Now in Europe the capacity of regasification terminals is about 220 billion cubic meters. m per year, but only half of this volume passes through them, the interlocutor of RBC recalled.
“This means that it can theoretically receive about 110 billion cubic meters. m. Spain is not needed for this at all. You can get this gas through Greece, Croatia, Poland, Lithuania, France and so on. The Central European countries are experiencing problems not with gas supplies, but with the price of this gas. The construction of a new pipe will not solve problems with the price, ”Frolov concluded.
According to La Vanguardia, in order to reduce dependence on Russian gas, NATO is considering, in particular, the restoration of the Midcat Mediterranean gas corridor project, which was not implemented at the time. Three years ago, it was abandoned, recognizing it as unprofitable in the context of the rapid replacement of gas with windmills and solar panels.
The new gas pipeline should ensure the delivery of regasified liquefied gas, which is delivered to Spanish terminals, to the center of Europe.