A serious leak in an Algerian gas pipeline is currently causing concern over a minor environmental disaster. A huge plume of the potent greenhouse gas methane has been spotted on satellite images in the country’s northwest — it’s near a line branching off the Medgaz gas pipeline, which supplies about a quarter of the natural gas consumed in Spain. Methane is considered a climate killer and is more than 80 times as greenhouse gas potent as CO2 in the first 20 years.
On May 26 and 27, a total of three gas plumes were observed by a satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA). The strongest of them emitted 118 tons of methane per hour and was located about eight miles from a distribution line that appears to be connected to the Medgaz gas pipeline, according to analysis by geoanalysis firm Kayrros SAS and Global Energy Monitor.
Annual production of 2000 cars in one hour
The gas plume was located approximately 50 kilometers from the main pipeline. At Kayrros’ estimated emissions, the most severe emissions of just one hour would have the same short-term climate impact as the annual emissions of more than 2,000 cars.
Algeria is considered a global methane hotspot. In the past, emissions have been observed near the Hassi R’Mel gas field in the east of the country. Scientists recently determined that methane has been drained from equipment connected to the field for nearly 40 years.
Gas company without comment
Algerian state oil and gas company Sonatrach, which owns and operates the entire stretch of the Medgaz gas pipeline from the Hassi R’Mel field to the Algerian coast, declined to comment to Bloomberg. A spokesman for the Algerian Ministry of Energy did not respond to a request from the news agency. Naturgy Energy Group SA, which operates the part of the Medgaz gas pipeline that runs under the Sea from Alborán to Spain, also declined to comment.
Naturgy and Sonatrach said in July 2021 that they would expand the pipeline’s capacity by 25 percent to a total of 10 billion cubic meters per year from the fourth quarter of 2021. Naturgy CEO Francisco Reynes said in the statement that the infrastructure “strengthens the security of Spain’s natural gas supply and is key to guarantees and stability for the ecological transition and decarbonization process”.
Third largest gas supplier for Europe
If Algeria, which accounts for about 8% of European gas imports and is the continent’s third largest gas supplier after Russia and Norway, fails to curb methane emissions from satellites, it could jeopardize its position in Europe’s energy transition . The European Union has been trying for a long time to tighten control of leakages within the EU and in key supplier countries.
Gas is considered the cleanest of all fossil fuels on paper because its combustion pumps less CO2 into the atmosphere than coal and oil. However, methane that is released during production, transport and storage is not taken into account in the climate balance.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
