Delay for Balearic gas pipe

The six month delay with regard to the planned dates could generate “relevant” problems for the installation of gas turbines in the area, said the CNE.
In fact, the regulator said that the delay “will mean a temporary extension of the existing system of supply on the Balearics during this time”, which “could be relevant for the gas turbine projects which are being developed to guarantee the electricity supply on the islands”.

Enagas is the promotor of the project. In May its President, Antonio Llarden, put the investment in the gas pipe at 490 million euros, which included a 300 kilometre pipe with the capacity to transport 676'000 cubic metres of gas.

With regard to the project for the new gas pipe between Algiers and Spain, Medgaz, the CNE said it considered that the associated infrastructures would have “slight delays”, and warned that the development of the compression station in Chinchilla is “necessary to control the gas flow”. Medgaz will be in use by the middle of 2009, according to the forecasts.

The Secretary General for Industry, Ignasi Nieto, explained that the Government is preparing Royal Decrees to improve the underground storage capacity for gas in the Castor installations (Tarragona) and those of Yela (Guadalajara).

With regard to Castor, the promotor has informed CNE that the gas pipe connection will be delayed by 730 days, and that the installation will not be available until December 2011.

As for Yela, the Algete to Yela and Tajo to Yela stretches of the gas pipe will be delayed by 546 days each.