Given the wartime energy emergency in Europe, it is perhaps astonishing that President Macron of France continues to block completion of the Midcat Pipeline.
Completion of this pipeline, whose construction was interrupted well before the Ukraine War began, would enable Portugal and Spain, located on the Iberian Peninsula, to send much of the abundance of LNG and pipeline gas these countries are able to import on northward, across the Pyrenees Mountains, across France and into Germany and other northern and eastern EU Member states, which are being starved of natural gas by Russia.
I am asked for my theory as to why President Macron would block this obviously much needed pipeline from crossing his country. We discuss several other related issues as well.
For background on this extraordinary meeting of three leaders in Berlin, aimed at pressuring their ally, President Macron, below is a link to a statement by PM Costa’s office after the meeting, and then some other references/links. Best, Tom O’Donnell
- Portuguese, Spanish and German Heads of Government prepare European Council on energy – XXIII Government – Portuguese Republic https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc23/communication/news-item?i=portuguese-spanish-and-german-heads-of-government-prepare-european-council-on-energy
- PM in Berlin for talks on energy with Scholz, Spain’s Sánchez – ECO News https://econews.pt/2022/10/14/pm-in-berlin-for-talks-on-energy-with-scholz-spains-sanchez/
- Germany says it is “optimistic” that the MidCat project will go ahead | Atalayar – Las claves del mundo en tus manos https://atalayar.com/en/content/germany-says-it-optimistic-midcat-project-will-go-ahead
- Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maghreb%E2%80%93Europe_Gas_Pipeline
The Global Barrel 