The Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline (MEG; also known as the Pere Duran Farell pipeline[2][3][4] or Gazoduc Maghreb Europe – GME) is a natural gas pipeline, which links the Hassi R'Mel gas field in Algeria through Morocco with Cordoba in Andalusia, Spain, where it is connected with the Spanish and Portuguese gas grids. Before the operation of the pipeline ceased in October 2021, it used to supply mainly Spain and Portugal, as well as Morocco with natural gas.
Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline
Location of Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline (in yellow)
The Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline was first proposed in 1963 by French companies. This proposal foresaw prolongation of the pipeline to Strasbourg in France. However, because of the Western Sahara dispute, any route from Algeria through Morocco to Spain was prevented. Also natural gas consumption in Spain was too low to justify the pipeline construction.[5]
The project started in early 1990s. In 1992, ministers of Spain and Algeria agreed to start the construction of the pipeline. At the same time Sonatrach and Enagás signed a long-term supply agreement. It followed by signing the Moroccan Convention establishing the procedures for the construction, operation and use of the pipeline. At the same year, the project company Europe - Maghreb Pipeline Ltd. was established. In 1994, Transgas of Portugal) joined the project.[6] Construction started on 11 October 1994.[7]
The pipeline came on stream on 1 November 1996 and it was commissioned on 9 November 1996.[8][9] The Spanish section was inaugurated in Cordoba on 9 December 1996.[10] The Portuguese section was inaugurated on 27 February 1997.[11] In 2000, the pipeline was named after Pedro or Pere Duran Farell.
Following the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco in August 2021, Algeria decided not to renew the 25-year MGE operation contract, which expired at midnight on 31 October 2021, opting instead to supply Spain through the Medgaz pipeline.[12][13][1]
Technical descriptionedit
The pipeline is 1,620 kilometres (1,010 mi) long and it cost US$2.3 billion. It was built by Bechtel and Saipem.[9][14] The pipeline consists of five sections. The pipeline's Algerian, Moroccan and Andalusian sections are 48 inches (1,200 mm) in diameter; the link to Portugal through Extremadura is 28 inches (710 mm)/32 inches (810 mm) in diameter; and the underwater sections consist of two 22-inch (560 mm) lines.[15]
An initial capacity of the pipeline was 8.6 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year, which was later expanded to 12 bcm.
Route and operatorsedit
The Algerian section of pipeline, 515 kilometres (320 mi) long, runs from the Hassi R'mel field in Algeria to the Moroccan border. It is owned and operated by the Algerian national state-owned oil company, Sonatrach. The 522 kilometres (324 mi) long Moroccan section is owned by the Moroccan State and operated by Metragaz, a joint venture of Sagane (a subsidiary of Spanish Gas Natural), Transgas (Portugal), and SNPP (Morocco). The length of the offshore section crossing the Strait of Gibraltar is 45 kilometres (28 mi); it is owned jointly by Enagás (Spain), Transgas, and the Moroccan state. The length of the Andalusian section is 269 kilometres (167 mi), and the Portuguese section 269 kilometres (167 mi) (in addition, there are 270 kilometres (170 mi) of pipeline in the autonomous community of Extremadura).[16]
^ abWang, Herman (2022-01-28). "As Europe seeks alternatives to Russian gas, Algeria has pipeline capacity to spare". S&P Global. from the original on 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
^"Gasoducto Pere Duran Farell, por Enric Juliana" [Pere Duran Farell gas pipeline, by Enric Juliana]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2021-10-30. from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
^Horcajo, Xavier (1999-07-11). "Fallece Duran Farell, el industrial introductor del gas natural en España" [Duran Farell, the industrialist who introduced natural gas in Spain, dies]. El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
^Tomàs, Neus (2021-11-06). "Pere Duran Farell, el visionario que trajo el gas natural a la España del butano". ElDiario.es (in Spanish). from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
^Hayes, Mark H. (May 2004). (PDF). Stanford University, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development. pp. 26–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^Pedro Moraleda (2002-03-26). (PDF). Cross Border Gas Trade Issues Workshop. International Energy Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^ . Europe Energy. 1994-10-14. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^ . Europe Energy. 1996-11-08. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^ ab . Europe Energy. 1996-11-22. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^ . Inter Press Service English News Wire. 1996-12-11. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^"Portuguese section of Maghreb-European gas pipeline inaugurated". Algerian Radio. 1997-02-27. from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^"Europe's energy crisis: Spain presses Algeria to guarantee natural gas supply". Euronews. 2021-10-28. from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
^"Algeria to halt gas exports to Spain via Morocco". Africanews. 2021-11-01. from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
^ "Gas Pipeline For Algeria". The New York Times. 1993-08-02. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
^ . BANKRZ. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25.
^"Select Transnational Gas/Oil Projects within Africa". Energy Information Administration. from the original on 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
January 01, 1970
maghreb, europe, pipeline, also, known, pere, duran, farell, pipeline, gazoduc, maghreb, europe, natural, pipeline, which, links, hassi, field, algeria, through, morocco, with, cordoba, andalusia, spain, where, connected, with, spanish, portuguese, grids, befo. The Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline MEG also known as the Pere Duran Farell pipeline 2 3 4 or Gazoduc Maghreb Europe GME is a natural gas pipeline which links the Hassi R Mel gas field in Algeria through Morocco with Cordoba in Andalusia Spain where it is connected with the Spanish and Portuguese gas grids Before the operation of the pipeline ceased in October 2021 it used to supply mainly Spain and Portugal as well as Morocco with natural gas Maghreb Europe Gas PipelineLocation of Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline in yellow LocationCountryAlgeria Morocco Spain PortugalGeneral directionsouth northFromHassi R Mel AlgeriaPasses throughMoroccoMediterranean SeaToCordoba SpainGeneral informationTypenatural gasPartnersSonatrach Kingdom of Morocco Enagas TransgasOperatorSonatrach Metragaz Enagas TransgasCommissioned1 November 1996Technical informationLength1 620 km 1 010 mi Maximum discharge12 billion cubic meters per year not in operation from 2021 1 Contents 1 History 2 Technical description 3 Route and operators 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editThe Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline was first proposed in 1963 by French companies This proposal foresaw prolongation of the pipeline to Strasbourg in France However because of the Western Sahara dispute any route from Algeria through Morocco to Spain was prevented Also natural gas consumption in Spain was too low to justify the pipeline construction 5 The project started in early 1990s In 1992 ministers of Spain and Algeria agreed to start the construction of the pipeline At the same time Sonatrach and Enagas signed a long term supply agreement It followed by signing the Moroccan Convention establishing the procedures for the construction operation and use of the pipeline At the same year the project company Europe Maghreb Pipeline Ltd was established In 1994 Transgas of Portugal joined the project 6 Construction started on 11 October 1994 7 The pipeline came on stream on 1 November 1996 and it was commissioned on 9 November 1996 8 9 The Spanish section was inaugurated in Cordoba on 9 December 1996 10 The Portuguese section was inaugurated on 27 February 1997 11 In 2000 the pipeline was named after Pedro or Pere Duran Farell Following the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco in August 2021 Algeria decided not to renew the 25 year MGE operation contract which expired at midnight on 31 October 2021 opting instead to supply Spain through the Medgaz pipeline 12 13 1 Technical description editThe pipeline is 1 620 kilometres 1 010 mi long and it cost US 2 3 billion It was built by Bechtel and Saipem 9 14 The pipeline consists of five sections The pipeline s Algerian Moroccan and Andalusian sections are 48 inches 1 200 mm in diameter the link to Portugal through Extremadura is 28 inches 710 mm 32 inches 810 mm in diameter and the underwater sections consist of two 22 inch 560 mm lines 15 An initial capacity of the pipeline was 8 6 billion cubic meters bcm of natural gas per year which was later expanded to 12 bcm Route and operators editThe Algerian section of pipeline 515 kilometres 320 mi long runs from the Hassi R mel field in Algeria to the Moroccan border It is owned and operated by the Algerian national state owned oil company Sonatrach The 522 kilometres 324 mi long Moroccan section is owned by the Moroccan State and operated by Metragaz a joint venture of Sagane a subsidiary of Spanish Gas Natural Transgas Portugal and SNPP Morocco The length of the offshore section crossing the Strait of Gibraltar is 45 kilometres 28 mi it is owned jointly by Enagas Spain Transgas and the Moroccan state The length of the Andalusian section is 269 kilometres 167 mi and the Portuguese section 269 kilometres 167 mi in addition there are 270 kilometres 170 mi of pipeline in the autonomous community of Extremadura 16 See also edit nbsp Energy portal Medgaz Trans Mediterranean Pipeline GALSI Trans Saharan gas pipeline Strait of Gibraltar crossing Europe Africa fixed linkReferences edit a b Wang Herman 2022 01 28 As Europe seeks alternatives to Russian gas Algeria has pipeline capacity to spare S amp P Global Archived from the original on 2022 03 24 Retrieved 2022 03 24 Gasoducto Pere Duran Farell por Enric Juliana Pere Duran Farell gas pipeline by Enric Juliana La Vanguardia in Spanish 2021 10 30 Archived from the original on 2022 08 01 Retrieved 2022 08 01 Horcajo Xavier 1999 07 11 Fallece Duran Farell el industrial introductor del gas natural en Espana Duran Farell the industrialist who introduced natural gas in Spain dies El Pais in Spanish ISSN 1134 6582 Archived from the original on 2022 08 01 Retrieved 2022 08 01 Tomas Neus 2021 11 06 Pere Duran Farell el visionario que trajo el gas natural a la Espana del butano ElDiario es in Spanish Archived from the original on 2022 08 01 Retrieved 2022 08 01 Hayes Mark H May 2004 Algerian Gas to Europe The Transmed Pipeline and Early Spanish Gas Import Projects Working Paper 27 PDF Stanford University Program on Energy and Sustainable Development pp 26 27 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 02 25 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Pedro Moraleda 2002 03 26 How the Major Barriers to Cross Border Gas Trade were Overcome in the Case of the Maghreb Pipeline PDF Cross Border Gas Trade Issues Workshop International Energy Agency Archived from the original PDF on 2007 09 30 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Work begins on Maghreb Europe gas pipeline Europe Energy 1994 10 14 Archived from the original on 2012 10 26 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Maghreb Europe gas pipeline comes on stream Europe Energy 1996 11 08 Archived from the original on 2012 10 26 Retrieved 2009 07 29 a b Algeria aims for 15 of European gas market via new pipeline Europe Energy 1996 11 22 Archived from the original on 2012 10 26 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Spanish section of Maghreb Europe gas pipeline opened Inter Press Service English News Wire 1996 12 11 Archived from the original on 2012 10 26 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Portuguese section of Maghreb European gas pipeline inaugurated Algerian Radio 1997 02 27 Archived from the original on 2012 10 20 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Europe s energy crisis Spain presses Algeria to guarantee natural gas supply Euronews 2021 10 28 Archived from the original on 2021 11 04 Retrieved 2021 11 04 Algeria to halt gas exports to Spain via Morocco Africanews 2021 11 01 Archived from the original on 2021 11 04 Retrieved 2021 11 04 Gas Pipeline For Algeria The New York Times 1993 08 02 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline BANKRZ Archived from the original on 2012 04 25 Select Transnational Gas Oil Projects within Africa Energy Information Administration Archived from the original on 2009 04 26 Retrieved 2009 07 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline amp oldid 1224964632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
