Update 2 | Power cut caused by tripped interconnector transformers

The power cut experienced by several localities across Malta and Gozo earlier today was the result of a trip in the transformers of the Malta-Sicily interconnector, Enemalta has said.

Shortly after after 10am, a power cut hit several areas, including Sliema, San Gwann, Naxxar, Paola, Santa Venera, Marsascala in Malta and Marsalforn and Xlendi in Gozo. Aspokesperson for Enemalta confirmed that a number of localities had been hit by the blackout, although not nationwide.

Electricity started being restored almost immediately, and by 10.30am several localities reported that the power was back on.

By 11:10am, Enemalta confirmed that electricity had been restored to all its customers. It described the cause of the power cut as “a technical difficulty,” adding that it had resolved the issue within 50 minutes.

In a statement, Enemalta later explained that the “technical difficulty,” which occurred during a scheduled maintenance operation at its Ragusa terminal station, resulted in a trip in the Malta-Italy Interconnector’s transformers. This, Enemalta said, resulted in the reduced capacity to the national grid.

“Electricity supply to several localities was immediately interrupted through the automatic shedding procedures to balance the network load and avoid a total shutdown of the system,” the statement read.

Enemalta added that it was able to restore power within a small timeframe by dispatching additional capacity from its emergency plants at Delimara, from the gas-powered engines of the Delimara 3 plant and from the Delimara 4 CCGT plant.

“Electricity supply could be restored swiftly since Enemalta now has several quick-start electricity generation sources available in its energy mix. The additional generation capacity from the Delimara 3 and Delimara 4 gas-fired plants was made available to Enemalta as soon as they were dispatched to provide for the load previously supplied through the interconnector.”