VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Manufacture and testing of Malta’s second electricity interconnector have been completed, marking another major milestone ahead of the laying of the 103-kilometre subsea cable between Malta and Sicily later this year.
The high-voltage cable was manufactured at Nexans’ Charleston facility in the United States and underwent extensive factory testing to verify its operational integrity before being spooled onto a carousel for loading onto a cable-laying vessel.
Energy Minister Miriam Dalli described the achievement as a significant step towards the project’s installation phase, noting that preparatory offshore works have also been completed.
She said the second interconnector is a strategic investment that will strengthen Malta’s electricity link with mainland Europe, improve energy resilience, support the integration of renewable energy and contribute to the country’s long-term energy transition.
The manufacturing process involved the production of fibre optic cables in Norway, the shaping of copper conductors and the assembly, insulation and armouring of the cable to withstand long-term subsea operation.
The cable was produced in sections of about 10 kilometres before being joined into two main lengths. One section includes a spare cable that will be stored in Malta for future repairs.
The project also cleared a major logistical hurdle last week after the undersea route between Malta and Sicily was cleared of unexploded Second World War bombs and other obstacles.
The €300 million project is being managed by Interconnect Malta and has received €261 million in European Union funding.
– Photo Malta Ministry of Energy –
(ITALPRESS).
