Minister Miriam Dalli asks MCESD for measures to address power cut crisis

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli has asked Malta’s social partners to propose measures to address electricity disruptions and manage consumption during periods of exceptionally high demand, following the power cuts experienced during the recent heatwave.

Addressing the eighth meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Dalli said the government wanted input from employers, trade unions and civil society on initiatives that could reduce pressure on specific parts of the electricity grid during demand peaks.

She said Engineer Abigail Cutajar had been tasked with meeting MCESD members to present the government’s proposals and discuss measures that could encourage responsible electricity consumption.

Dalli stressed that the discussions would not concern changes to electricity tariffs or higher bills. Instead, they would focus on managing sharp, localised increases in demand when extreme temperatures place particular feeders and substations under pressure.

“The fact that we do not burden people with high bills does not mean that we promote waste,” she said.

The meeting was requested to discuss the electricity supply challenges experienced during the previous week, which Dalli acknowledged had caused concern among residents, businesses and the groups represented within the MCESD.

She said Malta had not followed the approach taken by some other European countries, where restrictions on electricity use had been introduced. However, she said this did not mean that Malta should avoid awareness initiatives encouraging consumers to use electricity responsibly.

Dalli said the government had already carried out public information campaigns but acknowledged that more could be done. She invited MCESD members to submit their own ideas on how consumers could help reduce demand during the most critical periods.

Malta’s electricity demand reached 741 megawatts during the recent period of intense heat, substantially higher than the country’s average demand of around 450MW.

Dalli said electricity demand had increased by 86% when compared with 2014, attributing the rise to extreme temperatures, a growing population and increased activity across homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and the manufacturing industry.

She said the recent pressure on the network had largely been caused by localised demand peaks rather than a nationwide shortage of electricity.

The most significant problems were experienced at low-voltage level, where a number of individual consumers were affected. These faults were concentrated on particular feeders and substations serving specific areas.

Dalli said investment carried out at high- and medium-voltage levels since 2024 had strengthened the system and provided Enemalta with greater flexibility when faults occurred, helping prevent consumers from remaining without electricity for long periods.

However, she acknowledged that the work needed to continue across different localities, particularly at medium- and low-voltage levels.

Three distribution centres are currently under construction and are expected to be completed shortly, while further work is planned in several localities.

Valletta was identified as one of the areas where ageing electricity infrastructure must be replaced. Dalli said carrying out the necessary works in the capital would be particularly sensitive because of its high concentration of residents, offices and commercial establishments.

She said Enemalta had been asked to hold discussions with MCESD members, Infrastructure Malta and the Valletta Local Council to determine how the project could be carried out gradually and with the least possible disruption to the residential and business communities.

Works have also started in Birkirkara, Kalkara and Mellieħa, although Dalli said it was not possible to excavate entire localities simultaneously.

She argued that while the government wanted to accelerate the investment programme, the complexity of works inside residential streets meant that a long-term plan could not simply be completed within two years.

“We cannot dig up the whole country at once,” she said, adding that infrastructure works inevitably created inconvenience for residents and businesses.

Dalli thanked Enemalta employees for their response during the recent difficulties and for their work on the distribution system since 2024.

She also responded to claims questioning whether the promised investment had taken place. The government has asked the National Audit Office to update its previous report, which covered the period up to 2023, and examine the work carried out by Enemalta during the past three years.

The minister said the government was also continuing to strengthen Malta’s electricity supply and generation capacity as demand increased.

She referred to Malta’s transition from heavy fuel oil to liquefied natural gas, the construction of the first electricity interconnector and ongoing work on the second interconnector.

The government is also planning a third interconnector and further renewable energy projects, including offshore wind developments.

Dalli said these investments were necessary to support Malta’s economic growth while ensuring that the country could continue meeting the electricity needs of residents and businesses.

Social Dialogue Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti, who opened the meeting, said its agenda had been shaped by the issues raised by MCESD members during his meetings with their respective organisations.

He said the meeting demonstrated the council’s importance in representing workers, businesses, civil society and the interests of Gozo.

Azzopardi Tanti said the government believed in dialogue and collaboration and pledged that the concerns raised by MCESD members would be brought forward for discussion at the earliest opportunity.

Dalli said the electricity challenges faced by the country were a national issue requiring cooperation between the government, Enemalta, social partners and consumers.

She said the government would continue investing in the grid but wanted MCESD members to help identify practical measures that could protect essential electricity use and limit pressure on the network during future periods of extreme demand.