VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta will rely entirely on its own electricity generation for around eight days as the electricity interconnector linking the island to Sicily is temporarily shut down for works on a second interconnector. The project is estimated to cost €300 million, with around €261 million financed through European Union funds. The 122-kilometre cable, with a capacity of 225 megawatts, is intended to double Malta’s electricity interconnection capacity and strengthen the security of the island’s energy supply.
Enemalta and Interconnect Malta (ICM) said the existing interconnector (IC1) would be taken out of service for approximately eight days from Tuesday, 27 October.
The shutdown is necessary to allow the next phase of work on the second interconnector (IC2), which will connect Malta to Europe’s energy grid through a new electrical link.
The works will involve connecting a newly installed 220 kV reactor to the hybrid switchgear using high-voltage cables routed through trenches completed earlier this month.
According to Enemalta and ICM, the activities will require heavy construction machinery, specialised lifting equipment and cable-pulling machinery to operate within the terminal station.
The existing interconnector was also switched off earlier this month to allow the completion of cable trenches and modifications to high-voltage infrastructure.
During that shutdown, Malta experienced a widespread power cut on 8 October.
Enemalta maintained that the blackout was caused by human error and was not linked to problems with electricity generation or supply.
-Photo Interconnect Malta-
(ITALPRESS).
