H2med project officially renewed as European “Project of Common Interest” (PCI)

The H2med project reaches a key milestone again: the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) has been published on April 9, 2026 in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is confirming the award of the PCI label to the BarMar (Barcelona-Marseille) and CelZa (Celorico da Beira-Zamora) interconnections, as well as the national backbones jointly forming the H2med corridor.

A strategic validation at the heart of the European energy transition

This publication follows the approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of the 2^nd PCI/PMI delegated act, which had been proposed on the 1^st of December 2025 by the European Commission. The European co-legislators now confirmed their full support for this new list, established under the revised TEN-E regulation.

As a reminder, EU-supported cross-border energy infrastructure projects are fundamental in helping the Union achieve its climate and energy goals. The list will enter into force on the 20^th day following its publication in the Official Journal.

Confirmed maturity and expansion of the H2med Hydrogen Corridor

The renewal of the PCI status for BarMar and CelZa validates the proven maturity of these projects and highlights the significant progress already made by the partners. This solid foundation allows for the acceleration of the South-Western Hydrogen Corridor’s momentum. The H2med corridor is one of the priorities ‘Energy Highways’ presented by President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address, on the 10^th of September 2025.

The PCI list also confirms the extension to other crucial national projects aligned with this European vision within the H2med corridor: the PCI status renewal for key infrastructures such as the Portuguese backbone, the Spanish backbone and its two associated storages North 1 and North 2 and the HY-FEN, MosaHyc and RHYn projects, and the inclusion of new strategic infrastructure projects such as HySoW (transport and storage) and MidHY, and also H2ercules South-West as part of the German core grid.

These inclusions reinforce the ambition of the H2med corridor to become a truly comprehensive and resilient hydrogen backbone, capable of connecting the production capacities of South-Western Europe to the major industrial consumption centres of Central Europe.

Concrete benefits to accelerate development

Obtaining this PCI label grants the H2med project decisive advantages for the next stages of its deployment:

• Access to simplified and accelerated permitting procedures.
• Eligibility for European financial support under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), helping to catalyse the investments required for its ambitious goals.

About the infrastructure operators involved in the H2med project:

Enagás is a Transmission System Operator (TSO) with 50 years’ experience in the development, operation and maintenance of energy infrastructure. It has more than 12,000 kilometres of gas pipelines, three underground storage facilities and eight regasification plants. The company operates in seven countries. In Spain it is the Technical Manager of the Gas System and, according to the Royal Decree-Law 8/2023, Enagás may operate as provisional Hydrogen Transmission Network Operator (HTNO) and develop H2med, the Spanish hydrogen network and associated storage facilities. In line with its commitment to energy transition, Enagás has announced its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, with a firm commitment to decarbonisation and the promotion of renewable gases, especially hydrogen. Find out more at: https://www.enagas.es/en/.
Press contact: Jorge Álvarez – dircom@enagas.es – (+34) 630 384 930.

NaTran is the new name of GRTgaz. In 2025, NaTran changed its name and launched a new corporate project focused on energy transition and carbon neutrality. To achieve its strategic goals, the company is adapting its networks and practices to address ecological, economic, and digital challenges. It provides infrastructure and logisitics solutions tailored to gases that contribute to the energy transition (biomethane, hydrogen and CO₂). NaTran is the second-largest gas transmission operator in Europe. The Group has two subsidiaries: Elengy (Europe’s leading LNG terminal operator) and NaTran Deutschland (operator of the MEGAL network). NaTran undertakes public service missions aimed at ensuring safe gas transport for its customers. The NaTran R&I research center (formerly RICE) is an international benchmark in research and innovation applied to the energy transition. NaTran Group key figures: 33,800 km of pipelines, 590 TWh of gas transported, nearly 3,850 employees, nearly €2.5 billion in revenue in 2024. To find out more about NaTran and its initiatives, visit NaTrangroupe.com, X, LinkedIn, Instagram.
Press contact: Chafia Baci – chafia.baci@natrangroupe.com – (+33) 6 40 48 54 40.

OGE gets gaseous molecules flowing. We create and maintain a modern, safe and efficient infrastructure for natural gas, hydrogen and CO₂. Our pipeline network with a length of more than 12,000 kilometres is fundamental to Germany’s energy supply and ensures the prosperity of our society. As the market-leading gas transmission system operator, we are a pioneer, driver and enabler of the energy transition and climate neutrality. We see ourselves as transformation consultants and service providers for industry, power plants, distribution system operators and our partners from production and politics. The OGE Group is also a future-proof, modern workplace for more than 2,000 people. In the interests of our employees and shareholders, we continually adapt our business model to ensure lastingly profitable development. For more information on the company, go to www.oge.net.
Press contact: Kristian Peters-Lach – kristian.peters-lach@oge.net – (+49) 201 3642–12622.

REN – Gasodutos, S.A. is the Portuguese gas TSO and part of REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais, SGPS, S.A., a group of companies that integrates the Portuguese electricity TSO, as well as other gas activities concessions in Portugal such as, the Sines LNG Terminal, the underground storage and one gas distribution company. Besides its operation in Portugal, REN also has gas and electric grid assets in Chile and a share in the Cahora Bassa power plant in Mozambique. REN – Gasodutos, S.A. is responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of more than 1,300 km of high-pressure pipelines in Portugal and for the national gas system technical management. Find us at https://www.ren.pt/.
Press contact: Paulo Camacho – paulo.camacho@ren.pt – (+351) 929 029 187.

Teréga – Established in South-West France, at the crossroads between major European gas flows, Teréga has exercised exceptional expertise for over 80 years in the development of gas transport and storage infrastructures. Today, it continues to develop innovative solutions to overcome the major energy challenges facing France and Europe. A true accelerator of the energy transition, Teréga operates over 5,000 km of pipelines and 2 underground storage reservoirs representing 15.8% of the French gas transport network and 27% of national storage capacity. In 2024, the company generated turnover of €488 million (excluding balancing and congestion) and had more than 647 employees. Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of Teréga’s strategy, as it embarks on the energy transition to carbon neutrality. Teréga has rolled out programmes in all areas of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance): its employee safety and its infrastructure security via the PARI 2035 programme, sustainable development of territories and social responsibility via the ENERGIZ MOUV programme, support of philanthropic projects via the Teréga Accélérateur d’Énergies endowment fund, and reduction of environmental impacts via the BE POSITIF programme with a commitment to a 34% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2021 on all scopes 1, 2 and 3. Find us at https://www.terega.fr/.
Press contact: Céline DALLEST – celine.dallest@terega.fr – (+33) 6 38 89 11 07.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the H2med partners and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.