Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, Mar. 9 -- The European Commission has selected 31 gas and 12 electricity projects to receive grants totaling a record €2.3 billion for energy infrastructure.
The investments are part of almost €4 billion set aside in March 2009 for European economic recovery. They reflect desires by the European Union to interconnect member states and reduce isolation of outlying members such as the three Baltic states, Ireland, and Malta.
The spending will help provide for emergency pipeline flow reversal in nine EU countries and support the Nabucco gas line between Turkey and Germany and the Galsi line between Algeria and Italy. The EU investments, expected to encourage industry commitments of as much as €22 billion, will be allocated over the next 18 months.
The €1,39 million identified for 31 gas line projects includes €200 million for Nabucco, €200 million to increase capacity of the France-Belgium interconnection, over €175 million to develop gas interconnections between France and Spain, €120 million for the Galsi pipeline, and €35 million for the Germany-Belgium-UK pipeline.
An LNG terminal at Poland’s port of Swinoujscie will receive €80 million, while infrastructure and equipment to reverse pipeline flow of gas in the event of short-term supply disruption will be granted €79.5 million.
File photo from PDVSA..
