Last Updated on Monday, 11 March, 2024 at 5:21 pm by Andre Camilleri
Enemalta continues electricity network upgrades in Malta and Gozo
Enemalta added 38 kilometres of new underground cables to the national grid in less than three months.
Minister for the Environment Energy and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour Miriam Dalli announced the progress of this infrastructural investment while meeting some of the project’s workers in Mosta. The Minister was accompanied by Mosta Mayor Chris Grech and Enemalta Executive Chairperson Ryan Fava.
Minister Dalli commended the 100 plus workers involved in this project across Malta and Gozo, including employees and contractors of Enemalta, Infrastructure Malta and Transport Malta, the three entities that joined forces to accelerate its implementation, with the support of the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works.
Through this collaboration, Enemalta is laying more than 70 kilometres of new 11-kilovolt cables to increase network resilience and flexibility, with more alternative connections between different network nodes in Malta and Gozo. These additional connections are reducing the risks of network disruptions, while facilitating quicker restoration times when such difficulties arise.
Cable laying works are in progress in several localities in Malta and Gozo, including Attard (Ta’ Qali), Birżebbuga (Ħal Far), Għaxaq, Gudja, Kalkara, Luqa, Mosta, Mtarfa, Munxar (Xlendi), Nadur, Naxxar, Rabat (Malta), Xgħajra, Żabbar, and Żurrieq. Enemalta completed similar works in Kirkop, Cospicua and Fgura earlier this year.
Minister Miriam Dalli explained that last year, the Government pledged to augment its 2024 investment in the country’s electricity infrastructure. “We want to make sure that our infrastructure continues to meet Malta’s present and future energy requirements. As last summer’s record temperatures have shown, this network reinforcement is also critical to bolster our climate resilience. More residential, commercial and industrial operations are moving towards electrification, while our communities are increasing their investments in grid-connected renewables. Our electricity infrastructure is the backbone of this transition.”
“We will continue investing in the energy sector, with a stronger grid, new interconnections, innovative energy storage solutions and more renewable energy projects on land and offshore, as we maintain our strong commitment towards climate neutrality,” the Minister said.
Enemalta Executive Chairman Ryan Fava explained that the ongoing cable laying works in Mosta and other localities form part of the Company’s six year network reinforcement plan launched in 2022. “Through this investment, during the first two months of the year, our network teams have already commissioned 10 new substations and upgraded another nine existing ones. We also energised 23 new 400/230V substation feeders, to continue improving the quality of our services in different parts of Malta and Gozo. Many other similar projects will be completed in coming months.”
“The six-year plan also includes four new distribution centres in the limits of Naxxar, Siġġiewi, Cottonera and Rabat. Planning and procurement preparations for these new network nodes are in progress. Works to extend the Buġibba Distribution Centre are underway. Enemalta is also planning major upgrades in another two distribution centres,” Fava said.
