Two other notable points should be made regarding gas supplies:

• The arrival of Norwegian gas in the form of LNG from the liquefaction and loading terminal on the island of Melkaya (northern Norway), originating from the Norwegian Snohvit offshore field. This supply line was made possible under an agreement entered into by Iberdrola and the exporting company.
• The start of an LNG supply line from Equatorial Guinea, one of the newest members of the group of LNG-exporting countries.

The actions taken in recent years, with the increase in the number of terminals, greater storage capacity at these terminals and an increased capacity to transport gas, together with ongoing projects (Medgaz) and short- and medium-term actions (such as the strengthening of connections with countries to the north of the Pyrenees) show a Spanish gas system that is clearly seeking to expand while at the same time enhancing the security of its supply lines, both domestically and in the rest of Europe. The close cooperation involved in the development of the Portuguese and Spanish networks that criss-cross the Iberian Peninsular serve as an example. Connected systems ensure that supply can be secured with relative ease and underpin the steady and reliable performance of both gas systems. Another significant event in the Spanish gas sector is the forthcoming entry into operation (2009) of the Medgaz pipeline which will connect Algeria with the Iberian Peninsular and increase the annual piped supply capacity by 8 bcm from the end of 2009, an amount that is equivalent to 20% of total Spanish consumption. This will further strengthen the connection between the two countries without passing through any other territory.

As already mentioned, given Spain’s geographical position and the amount of gas reaching the Iberian Peninsular, Spain’s contribution to ensuring a secure European gas supply relies on its connections with France. There are currently two operational connections along what is known as the western corridor: via Larrau, carrying 2.5 bcm/year, and via Irun, carrying 0.1 bcm/year. The plan is to increase the two-way transport capacity along this corridor to 7.2 bcm/year, and to build a connection with the underground storage facility at Lussagnet (France).

The new Midcat connection, which will pass through eastern Catalonia, will add a further 7.2 bcm/year of capacity by 2015.