Medgaz
Natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Spain
title: "Medgaz" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["energy-infrastructure-completed-in-2010", "natural-gas-pipelines-in-algeria", "natural-gas-pipelines-in-spain", "algeria–spain-relations", "pipelines-under-the-mediterranean-sea", "2011-establishments-in-algeria", "2011-establishments-in-spain"] description: "Natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Spain" topic_path: "geography/spain" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medgaz" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Spain ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox pipeline"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Medgaz pipeline |
| type | natural gas |
| map | Algeria pipelines map.jpg |
| map_caption | Location of Medgaz pipeline (in blue) |
| country | Algeria, Spain |
| operator | Sociedad para el Estudio y Promocion del Gasoducto Argelia-Europa, via Espana S.A. |
| partners | Sonatrach, Cepsa, Iberdrola, Endesa, Engie |
| length_km | 757 |
| discharge | 10.5 billion cubic meters per year |
| direction | south-north |
| start | Hassi R'Mel, Algeria |
| finish | Almería, Spain |
| est | 2010 |
| through | Mediterranean Sea |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Medgaz pipeline | type = natural gas | photo = | caption = | map = Algeria pipelines map.jpg | map_caption = Location of Medgaz pipeline (in blue) | country = Algeria, Spain | coordinates = | operator = Sociedad para el Estudio y Promocion del Gasoducto Argelia-Europa, via Espana S.A. | partners = Sonatrach, Cepsa, Iberdrola, Endesa, Engie | length_km = 757 | discharge = 10.5 billion cubic meters per year | direction = south-north | start = Hassi R'Mel, Algeria | finish = Almería, Spain | est = 2010 | through = Mediterranean Sea | par = |website=}}
Medgaz is a submarine natural gas pipeline between Algeria and Spain.
History
The idea of building a direct gas pipeline between Algeria and Europe arose in the 1970s. However, the technical limitations at that time prevented the construction and operation of an ultra deepwater gas pipeline. The preparation of Medgaz project started in 2001 by founding Medgaz pipeline company (Sociedad para el Estudio y Promoción del Gasoducto Argelia-Europa, vía España S.A.). The feasibility study carried out in 2002–2003. The construction started on 7 March 2008 in Almería. | url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200803/Work_Begins_On_Algeria_Europe_Gas_Pipeli_9212.aspx | title = Work Begins on Algeria-Europe Gas Pipeline | publisher = Downstream Today | date = 2008-03-07 | accessdate = 2008-03-11}} Work in laying the subsea stretch was finished in December 2008. | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article168728.ece | title = Medgaz wraps up subsea work | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2008-12-23 | accessdate = 2008-12-25 | url-access = subscription The pipeline was officially inaugurated on 1 March 2011.{{Cite news | url = http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/economy/5920.html | title = Spain now served via Almeria by Algerian gas | publisher = Ennahar online | date = 2011-03-01 | accessdate = 2011-03-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195614/http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/economy/5920.html | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | url-status = dead
Route
The pipeline begins from the Hassi R'mel field in Algeria and the first section runs to the port of Beni Saf. The offshore section begins from Beni Saf and the landfall site is at the Perdigal Beach in the coast of Almería, Spain. It will be hooked up to the existing Almería-Albacete gas pipeline.
Technical description
The length of Algerian onshore section is 547 km and the offshore section is 210 km. | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article136134.ece | title = Dresser-Rand trains to drive Medgaz flows | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2007-06-26 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 | url-access = subscription The initial capacity of the 48 in onshore and 24 in offshore pipeline will be 8 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas annually. It would be possible to increase the capacity of the first pipeline, and also the option to lay a second same diameter pipeline with minimal extra construction is foreseen.
Total estimated costs of project are €900 million, including €630 million for the offshore section. | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article131075.ece | title = Medgaz boss eyes 2009 start | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2007-04-12 | accessdate = 2010-10-23 | url-access = subscription The Algerian onshore section of the pipeline is to be constructed by UTE Initec – Spie Capag and the offshore section is to be constructed by Saipem. | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/incoming/article141144.ece | title = Medgaz breakthrough | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2007-09-21 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 | url-access = subscription | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article134126.ece | title = Entrepose connects Spie Capag | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2007-05-24 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 | url-access = subscription The offshore section of the pipeline was laid by Castoro Sei, Saipem 7000 and Crawler pipe-laying ships. |url = http://steelguru.com/news/index/2008/12/28/NzY3MjY%3D/Update_on_MEDGAZ_offshore_pipeline_construction_works.html |title = Update on MEDGAZ offshore pipeline construction works |publisher = Steel Guru |date = 2008-12-28 |accessdate = 2010-03-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081229041105/http://www.steelguru.com/news/index/2008/12/28/NzY3MjY%3D/Update_on_MEDGAZ_offshore_pipeline_construction_works.html |archivedate = 29 December 2008}} Steel pipes are delivered by Nippon Steel, and three compressor trains were supplied by Dresser-Rand. | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/asia_oceania/article128060.ece | title = Nippon lands Medgaz gig | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2007-02-20 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 | url-access = subscription Lloyd's Register would provide pipeline inspection and certification services, including vendor works inspection for the pipeline and equipment and certification for the onshore and offshore pipe lay and the construction of the compressor station. | url = http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200704/Lloyd_s_Register_Wins_Medgaz_Contract_3344.aspx | title = Lloyd's Register Wins Medgaz Contract | publisher = Downstream Today | date = 2007-04-30 | accessdate = 2008-03-11}} | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article132441.ece | title = Lloyd's to run rule over Medgaz | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2007-04-30 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 | url-access = subscription
The initial capacity of 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year was expanded to 10.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year, for an estimated cost of €68 million. The expansion became operational in 2021.
Project company
The head of the Medgaz company is Pedro Miró Roig. The shareholders of Medgaz consortium:
In 2006, BP and Total withdrew from the project.
References
References
- "MEDGAZ | Press Room | Press release".
- . (2021-09-01). ["Les capacités d'exportation du Medgaz augmenteront à 10,5 milliards de M3 fin novembre"](https://www.algerie-eco.com/2021/09/01/gaz-capacites-exportation-medgaz-augmenteront-105-milliards-m3-fin-novembre/).
- (30 May 2020). "Algeria's Sonatrach becomes majority shareholder in Medgaz pipeline". [[Reuters]].
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