Power grid to be linked to Sicily by 2012

Enemalta intends to connect Malta by grid to Sicily by 2012 to ensure there is enough electricity to meet demand and to transform the source of electricity generation from fuel oil to gas.

This project, which would take up to two and a half years to complete, has to be in place by that year because that's when the Marsa power plant will be switched off. Once Malta is linked to Sicily, it will be in a position to choose its supplier of electricity.

Addressing a news conference yesterday about the corporation's 30th anniversary celebrations, chairman Alex Tranter said Enemalta's programme included setting up a wind turbine at Marfa that would provide enough wind energy to supply a household of four people. Computers will be checking performance of this pilot project minute by minute for the corporation to establish whether wind and solar energy make sense for Malta.

The corporation will also be installing its second photovoltaic installation on the roof of its Qawra district office.

Activities being held to mark the 30th anniversary include outings for the corporation's employees and their families, an open week for students and the public in May, and the launch of a communications campaign to generate awareness about Enemalta's role in June.

Mr Tranter said challenges included meeting the ever-increasing demand of electricity especially with the large projects that were materialising, including SmartCity, Manoel Island/Tigné, Pender Gardens and the new hospital.

Cables were being passed from under the Sta Venera tunnels to ensure the hospital had an adequate supply of electricity by the time it opened.

A call had already been issued for a 120-megawatt generation plant for the island which cost Lm40 million and which had to be in place within two to three years.

The corporation was also considering building two or three large distribution centres - it was already working on the first one at Kappara.

Asked about the commercialisation of its gas and fuel divisions, Mr Tranter said the government would be giving an operator a concession agreement to operate these sectors for 30 years after which they would be returned to the government.

On liberalisation, Mr Tranter said this challenge already existed and anyone who wanted to produce electricity could do so. This was, however, easier said than done because it was not so easy to find the necessary site.

However, once one produced electricity, this had to be put on the national grid which belonged to Enemalta and which was to remain under Enemalta's control because the country had obtained a derogation from the European Union on this matter.

Electricity was first introduced to the Maltese Islands in 1882 to illuminate a performance of Un Ballo In Maschera at the Royal Opera House, in Valletta.

Enemalta Corporation was established in 1977, when Malta's energy products were nationalised and run by a single government-owned entity.