Brussels, 24/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Following their meeting in Madrid on Monday 23 May, Spanish and French Industry Ministers Miguel Sebastian and Eric Besson announced that the new electricity interconnection between their respective countries would come on stream by 2014. This new line between Santa Llogaia in Spain and Baixàs in France will double, to 2,800 megawatts (MW), the exchange capacity between the two countries. In addition to increased security of supply, it will make it easier for electricity from renewable energy sources to enter the grids. The project, which has been pending since 1994, was held up partially because of opposition to further unsightly high tension lines spoiling the countryside. It has been decided that the line will be fully underground and will be based on existing infrastructure. The project, construction and coming into service have been given to INELFE, an entity held equally by REE and RTE, the Spanish and French transmission system operators. Of the €700 million budget, INELFE will receive €225 million in European funding from the 2008 European energy programme. Funding is also being sought from the European Investment Bank (EIB). With the public utility declaration being made by France on 4 May, the project has now all the administrative authorisations needed for it to begin. Work will start at the end of 2011, with power-up by the end of 2013 and entry into service by 2014. Sebastian and Besson also stated their aim of increasing the Franco-Spanish interconnection to at least 4,000 MW by 2020. A joint working group is to be set up and will bring forward proposals before the end of the year. (E.H./transl.rt)