A New Gas Path between France and Spain
'L’artère de l’Adour” is a pipeline under construction in the south west of France, not too far from the Spanish border. It is a project that reflects in so many ways the energy policies the European Union is trying to implement along with challenges ahead.
By the end of the year, gas will flow through a new 96 km long pipeline connecting Arcangues, a small town near Bayonne, and Coudures. 21,000 tons of tubes 1.20 meter under the ground to connect with another pipeline which cross the border.
Named after a local river, the L’Artère de l’Adour project should secure the supply in the area according to TIGF, a former TOTAL subsidiary in charge of the project. “It’s essential to the Landes region and to the Fench part of the Basque Country since the production ended in a local arising.”
Its overall goal is to increase transport capacity between France and Spain - one of the main aspects of European Union energy policies.
New roads for gas
The EU supports similar projects throughout Europe to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Currently 40% of its natural gas imports come from Russia.
France imports 98% of its gas, just 15% is from Russia.
For Spain, the pipeline in south west of France is an opportunity to strengthen gas connections with France in order to transfer Algerian gas to Eastern Europe.
Michel Derdevet, the CEO of ERDF suggests in an energy report to deepen cooperation efforts made by neighboring countries in the absence of a real EU common energy policy. “As if today, there is a different approach in each state.”
The European Commission unveiled on 25 February a plan to create an Energy Union.
Gas pipelines a top priority for Europe
The report criticizes the actions taken by the Commission, which focuses primarily on gas projects.“European funding is currently based on gas infrastructure. A short term response to the tensions in Ukraine that underestimates the evolution of the energy mix in the long run.”
This is an inconsistent position given the fact that, according to Mr. Derdevet, the proportion of gas from all sources of energy will drop by 25% in the next fifteen years with the development of clean energies.
He also points out a lack of investments: “Whereas energy security issues are considered as a top priority, the EU supports financially few energy investments.”
Grassroots opposition
Local residents are concerned about pipeline construction in some communities. In the neighbouring 31 towns where 'Artere de l’Adour' is being built, environmental organizations have denounced a lack of transparency and questioned the relevance of building another pipeline in the area.
Their concern is that the pipeline will ultimately transport unconventional gas from Spain to be stored in France. To be clear, Spanish authorities have recently granted exploratory licenses in the Basque Country and there has yet to be an exploitation of potential resources.
“We do not see the usefulness of the pipeline except the willing to exploit shale gas. The pipeline will allow Spain to send shale gas to storage areas in France. The project promotes the development of shale gas exploration. We strongly disapprove it because of its impact on the environment,” explains Martine Bouchet, leader of a local advocacy group in Mouguerre.
Said fears are further fuelled by the silence of TIGF. The operator does not want to disclose the origins of the gas and the name of the companies for safety reasons.“ TIGF is in charge of the transmission. The gas come from multiple deposits around the world and enter the system through pipelines and gas terminals. We cannot verify if the gas is conventional or unconventional.”
Kevin Bonnaud