Enemalta starts excavation work on Marsa-Qormi tunnel

Enemalta launches the excavation of a 1.8km tunnel to connect its new distribution centre in Marsa to the electricity distribution network

Excavations of a tunnel from Marsa to Qormi by Enemalta have now commenced
Excavations of a tunnel from Marsa to Qormi by Enemalta have now commenced

The Marsa North Distribution Centre is replacing a crucial node of the country’s electricity network which is currently incorporated within the Marsa Power Station. The distribution centre also forms part of Enemalta’s Network Reinforcement Project aimed at consolidating the country’s electricity grid through six new distribution centres and several other upgrades across Malta and Gozo.   

Later this year, all high voltage cables currently routed through the Marsa Power Station will be shifted to the new distribution centre, which will receive electricity from other nearby network nodes. An underground walk-through culvert from the Marsa Menqa area to the Marsa Power Station site is being built for these cables, enabling easier access to the cables for maintenance and repairs. This avoids the hassle of trenching and road closures. 

Enemalta has also commenced the second phase of the new distribution centre to connect it to the 132 kV distribution network. This phase is starting with the excavation of a tunnel from the distribution centre’s site at Marsa to link with an existing electricity distribution tunnel at Qormi. Through this development the Marsa North Distribution Centre will provide the Maltese electricity grid with increased redundancy and flexibility to reduce the risk of electricity supply disruptions to customers, whilst enabling Enemalta to provide a quicker response in case of emergencies or other network difficulties.