Updated | Italy to issue interconnector authorisation within 20 days

Conferenza di Servizzi in Rome approves the development of interconnector in Sicily; Comune di Ragusa’s €600,000 compensation request upheld.

Malta has already received a €100 million loan in 2010 from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the project, while Enemalta corporation has already signed a €182 million contract with French company Nexans who will lay the cable between Malta and Sicily
Malta has already received a €100 million loan in 2010 from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the project, while Enemalta corporation has already signed a €182 million contract with French company Nexans who will lay the cable between Malta and Sicily

Despite vociferous opposition from regional councillors and politicians, Ragusa has overwhelmingly voted in favour of the Italy-Malta interconnector cable, sanctioning the works to begin as soon as the Italian government gives its formal green light later this month.

An extraordinary meeting of the Ragusa Council which was convened to discuss the proposed interconnector cable which will run between Marina di Ragusa and Qalet Marku, ended with 18 votes in favour and just one councillor's abstention.

Representatives of Movimento Territorio Ragusa, founded by former Ragusa mayor Nello Dipasquale, walked out of the Town Hall shortly before the vote was taken, expressing disappointment at the lack of support garnered for their campaign which was aimed at blocking the project.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, Dipasquale said that he was disappointed at the way the council reasoned.

While acknowledging the decision and that a majority had voted in favour of the project, Dipasquale said that the day will come when Ragusa residents will understand the true impact of the project.

Meanwhile, the Ragusa council also voted in setting up a steering committee which will see the participation of representatives from major environmental organisations, and regional authorities, which will oversee the works are carried out in conformity to regulations and least environmental impact.

The Italian government has now set January 23 as the date for the last public hearing in Rome, during which a final decision will be taken over the multi-million project which is expected to be co-financed by the European Union.

The Comune di Ragusa alsoasked for a compensation of €600,000 for the environmental impact. The request was accepted.

The no objection from the Comune di Servizzi was the last step to the granting of the permit. Last December a no objection was received from the Ministry for Environment, Ministry for Cultural Heritage and the Commissione VIA, part of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

In a statement, Enemalta said that within 20 days the Italian Government will be issuing the final authorisation and works on the interconnector can start.

Finance minister Tonio Fenech last week played down concerns on objections raised in Ragusa.

Fenech said that government had been given assurances that the project was going to be approved.

The project was discussed in Rome last December between foreign minister Francis Zammit Dimech and his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi.

Outgoing Italian ambassador Efisio Luigi Marras said that the project is considered as "important and strategic" for the Italian government.

Malta has already received a €100 million loan in 2010 from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the project, while Enemalta corporation has already signed a €182 million contract with French company Nexans who will lay the cable between Malta and Sicily.

According to Fenech, 50% of the project's cost would be financed by the EIB, another €20 million would come from EU funds, while the rest of the financing would be sourced from domestic banks.