The energy company has invested more than 30 million euros in the Ribadeo-Viveiro primary transport branch pipeline, which will allow access to natural gas to over 55,000 inhabitants, as well as the business and industrial community in the area.
The President of the Xunta of Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijoo, and the Chairman of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Salvador Gabarró, today opened the A Mariña Lucense gas pipeline by symbolically opening the valve in San Cibrao-Cervo. The energy company has invested more than 30 million euros in the 65 km Ribadeo-Viveiro primary transport branch pipeline, which will allow access to natural gas to over 55,000 inhabitants, as well as the business and industrial community in the area.
During the speeches, the Chairman of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Salvador Gabarró, reminded his listeners of the historical link the energy company has with this autonomous region and highlighted the importance of this infrastructure: “the construction of the A Mariña gas pipeline will contribute towards Galicia’s economic development and give Galicians wider access to an efficient and sustainable form of energy. On top of that, it is another example of the close collaboration our company maintains with the Xunta (regional government) of Galicia and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, whom I would like to thank as well for their strong support in driving this important project forward”.
A number of leading political and business representatives were also at the inauguration, including the Chairwoman of Alcoa Spain, Rosa García; the Regional Minister for Economy and Industry, Francisco Conde; the Second Deputy Chair of the Lugo Provincial Council, Lara Méndez; and the Mayor of Cervo, Alfonso Villares. Among others representing GAS NATURAL FENOSA there was the General Manager for Regulated Business, Antoni Peris, and the General Manager of Communication and the Chairman’s Office, Jordi Garcia Tabernero.
An engineering challenge in record time
GAS NATURAL FENOSA, drove this new infrastructure through its subsidiary Gas Natural Transporte. It is 65 kilometres long, linked to the existing Llanera-Vilalba pipeline and runs underground through the municipalities of Ribadeo, Barreiros, Foz, Burela, Cervo, Xove and Viveiro. The Ribadeo-Viveiro natural gas transport infrastructure, which is now operational, will mean an important improvement in the domestic economy of families and the competitiveness of businesses and industry in the county.
The construction of the gas pipeline, led by Gas Natural Fenosa Engineering, only took 11 months to complete. In spite of the tough working conditions dictated by the complicated terrain and weather patterns in this coastal region of Galicia, the project was completed on schedule and with no incident whatsoever. Strict safety and environmental preservation criteria were enforced during construction because the pipeline runs through some very rich areas from an ecological and landscape point of view.
The A Mariña gas pipeline will enable the towns of Cervo, Barreiros and Viveiro to be connected to the gas network, where an initial natural gas supply has already been provided via satellite LNG plants. The towns of Ribadeo, Foz, Burela and Xove will also be connected to the network now. Both domestic consumers as well as those in the agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors in A Mariña Lucense, including the Alcoa complex in San Cibrao which is the economic and social powerhouse of A Mariña, can now benefit from this new infrastructure.
The A Mariña Lucense gas pipeline is a national project
The project to construct the gas pipeline to A Mariña Lucense is the result of the joint efforts of the Xunta of Galicia, through the Regional Ministry of Economy and Industry, GAS NATURAL FENOSA and Alcoa, and responds to the commitment of the Autonomous Region of Galicia to sustainable development, the environment and energy efficiency.
This infrastructure is a project in the public interest which will contribute to improving the quality of life of the public, help households save money and support economic and industrial growth in the A Mariña Lucense county and Galicia. The construction of the Ribadeo-Viveiro gas pipeline means the county has a vital infrastructure for its economic development and increasing the competitiveness of its industry.
Now the A Mariña gas pipeline is up and running, the aluminium oxide plant at the Alcoa San Cibrao complex will only consume natural gas in its production processes, which will contribute towards its competitive and environmental sustainability by achieving an emissions reduction of 250,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
This new pipeline also represents another milestone in the regional government’s energy policy, which sees the gasification of the region as a priority for improving the quality of life of the people of Galicia and increasing the competitiveness of its businesses and industries. The Xunta regards natural gas as a strategic goal and a major boost to the economy.
At present, natural gas has become an economical and easily available energy solution for many households and for the majority of businesses, the service sector and industry. It requires very little investment, offers high performance, and can provide very energy-efficient processes.
Leading gas and electricity utility
GAS NATURAL FENOSA, the leading gas and electricity utility company in Galicia, currently has more than 1.7 million electricity distribution customers in this autonomous region and distributes natural gas in 69 municipalities via a distribution network that covers over 3,100 kilometres, with more than 245,000 supply points.
As regards commercialisation, it has 205,000 customers in the gas market and over 1.4 million in the electricity market.
The group also has various ordinary regime generation assets in Galicia: 1.273 MW of hydraulic, 580 MW of coal and 397 MW in combined cycles. In the special regime it has 236 MW of wind-power generation, 106 MW of minihydraulic, 21 MW of cogeneration, 2 MW of biogas and 50 MW of urban solid waste. And it has a stake in the LNG regasification plant, Reganosa.
