Italy and Spain consider possible gas pipeline between Barcelona and Genoa

The leaders of Italy and Spain have been in talks regarding the construction of a possible gas pipeline between Barcelona and Genoa.

The Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, confirmed on March 31 that he had spoken with the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, about the possibility of constructing a gas pipeline between Genoa (northern Italy) and Barcelona, although it is currently “only a hypothesis and has to be studied”.

Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the Foreign Press Association in Italy, Draghi said that following the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, the countries of the Mediterranean “have seen that they can be an important centre of operations for gas today and for hydrogen tomorrow”.

“It is something that could work to bring resources from the southern Mediterranean to northern Europe,” he added.

These were the reasons for the discussion between Sánchez and Draghi on a possible gas pipeline from Genoa to Barcelona during their meeting in Rome. The possibility was also discussed at the last European Council meeting.

The CEO of the Italian energy infrastructure company Snam, Marco Alverà said that all possible options were being considered to get the MidCat project underway in France but that “in the absence of real and rapid progress” they were “in the pre-feasibility phase of a new offshore gas pipeline from Spain to Italy”.

He also said: “a virtual pipeline could be organised with a system of small vessels to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Spain to Panigaglia, where only the smallest vessels can unload”.

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