Interconnector set to become fully operational by end of April

The interconnector is set to become fully operational by the end of April, two months ahead of the scheduled deadline, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told parliament.

The interconnector, connecting Malta to Sicily and joining the island to the European grid, comprises a 120-kilometre high voltage alternating current (HVAC) system capable of bidirectional flow of electrical power, transferring 200MW of electricity.

In Sicily, the interconnector is linked to the Italian network at 230kV in the Terna substation in Ragusa. The submarine cable lands in Malta at Qalet Marku, Bahar ic-Caghaq, and transmits electricity to the distribution network at 132kV through Enemalta’s new terminal station at Maghtab.

Speaking in parliament on the Energy Union, Muscat was asked by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to confirm whether Enemalta had encountered technical difficulties while attempting to switch on the interconnector.

“Tests are still being carried out on the interconnector to ensure that any technical difficulties are eliminated,” Muscat said, adding that Enemalta technicians were working on synchronisation tests between Malta and Sicily.

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi confirmed that the interconnector was in the switching on phase but warned that Malta could not depend entirely on the interconnector.

In a parting shot for Simon Busuttil, Muscat said the PN leader – while reminding the government that it had missed the new gas power plant deadline by some 15 months – said nothing about the interconnector works that fell two years behind under the PN administration.

The Energy Union, a card on the EU’s table for years, is being deemed a priority by the Juncker Commission. Last week in Brussels, the EU leaders called for accelerating infrastructure projects, including interconnections in particular to peripheral regions, for electricity and gas to ensure energy security a well-functioning internal energy market.

Malta is however pushing for a phasing in of the Energy Union, starting off with regional collaboration. Together with Slovakia and the Netherlands, Malta will be working on and presenting a package of legislation during Malta’s Presidency of the EU in 2017.