Enemalta blames gas turbine for power cuts. Gatt apologises, MP asks about compensation

Last updated 9.10 p.m.

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt this evening apologised for today's power cuts and said he was sure this was not sabotage but a technical fault, even though it coincided with the Enemalta budget debate in Parliament, as happened two years ago.

He said Enemalta would do its best to avoid a repetition.

Earlier, Enemalta said that although the cause of the power cuts was still being investigated, a technical fault had developed in a gas turbine at the Marsa Power Station. It said power was restored to all areas by 8.50 p.m.

The corporation said the turbine's unexpected fault in the morning resulted in an instant loss of 30MW causing the remaining plant to trip on overload. This loss of generation capacity had a negative cascading effect on the remaining generation capacity at the Marsa Power Station which in turn also brought down the generating capacity of the Delimara Power Station.

Enemalta said this led to the first blackout occurring at 10.30am with a complete loss of generation capacity. Immediate steps were taken to re-energise both power stations starting with the gas turbines at Delimara which have a quick start capability.

When the first black out occurred Enemalta engineers could not immediately identify the cause of the first fault and the gas turbine was also placed in service.

When the re-energisation process was almost complete, another fault occurred at 4pm, on the same gas turbine. Once again this resulted in the loss of all the generation capacity at both the Marsa and Delimara Power stations. A complete black out re-occurred and a re-energisation process was started immediately.

The electricity grid was gradually restored without the use of Gas Turbine No.9 at the Marsa Power station.

"Enemalta engineers are working round the clock to repair and also protect the grid and the gas turbine from triggering further electrical black outs," the corporation said.

Electricity was restored at Tarxien, Bulebel, M'Skala, Marsa, Valletta and Hal Far by 6 p.m. whilst ST. Microelectronics, Gudja, Bugibba, St. Venera B'Kara, Mellieha and Gozo got power back by 7.30 p.m.. Central Malta including paceville and St. Julian's were re-energised next. and power was back to all areas shortly before 9 p.m.

In Parliament, Labour MP Gavin Gulia said that rather than making his speech, he would read out the people's concerns as expressed in comments sent to timesofmalta.com throughout the day. He then proceeded to read them all, without mentioning the senders.

He was later criticised by Dr Gatt for having wasted part of his time in the House saying the country was not run according to what was said on blogs.

Meanwhile, today's power cuts saw hundreds of workers being sent home early as businesses closed down. Larger businesses and the banks kept going thanks to power generators. Restaurateurs complained of loss of stocks as power to fridges went dead. Other shopowners complained that they could not use cash cards.

The police issued a notice giving an emergency telephone number to police headquarters as its lines went dead.

Some people experienced problems with their mobile phones, although GO plc in a statement said its back-up systems ensured that there was no disruption.

The power problems also caused disruptions at PBS, where a reduced main news bulletin started half an hour late because of a break in transmission, the newscaster saying damage had been caused to the transmitter.

In Parliament, transmissions of the evening sitting went dead soon after Dr Gatt made his apology. Service was later restored.

Labour MP Gino Cauchi, who spoke later on the adjournment, asked if workers and businesses who had lost a working day or suffered damages would be able to claim compensation.

Enemalta's explanations were not enough and consumers had to be shown respect, Mr Cauchi said.