BarMar is a planned cross-border pipeline that will transport renewable hydrogen from Barcelona, Spain, to Marseille, France. Alongside the CelZa (Celorico–Zamora) interconnection, BarMar forms part of H2med, the European Union’s first dedicated hydrogen corridor. The corridor aims to meet approximately 10% of the EU’s hydrogen consumption by around 2030.
The new company, to be headquartered in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France, will oversee the development of BarMar and define the project’s governance structure. Shareholdings in the joint venture reflect the broader Spain–France balance of the H2med initiative: EIH-Enagás holds 50%, NaTran 33.3%, and Teréga 16.7%. Francisco Pablo de la Flor of Enagás has been appointed as the joint venture’s Chief Executive Officer.
The announcement comes shortly after the signing of Grant Agreements with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) for both the BarMar and CelZa projects. The grants, awarded under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), cover 50% of the development costs and represent the full amount requested. Funding will support initial engineering studies, marine surveys, and environmental assessments required for the permitting process.
This latest milestone follows the signing of a Joint Development Agreement in June 2024 and coincides with renewed political backing, expressed during a high-level meeting with European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, who oversees the Green, Just and Competitive Transition.
Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagás, commented: “The creation of this joint company embodies our collective commitment and determination to deliver this vital energy infrastructure for Europe. This marks the beginning of a new operational phase that will allow us to tackle the technical and regulatory challenges with an integrated team and a common goal: making H2med a reality.”
Sandrine Meunier, CEO of NaTran, said: “This new joint company provides the necessary framework for the long-term development of the BarMar hydrogen pipeline, a key component of the H2med project. It also gives concrete form to cross-border cooperation in developing strategic energy infrastructure to decarbonize our industries. Based in France, the BarMar company is now a place where all partners’ expertise in hydrogen transport will converge to foster a new phase of Europe’s energy.”
Carolle Foissaud, CEO of Teréga, added: “The announcement of the BarMar company anchors H2med at the heart of Europe’s energy sovereignty and enables the achievement of carbon neutrality goals. The European funding testifies to the confidence placed in our joint expertise. Along its partners, Teréga is fully mobilised to make this European clean hydrogen corridor a success for the decarbonisation of our industries and regions.”
