Malta signs €182 million interconnector contract

Eto Demerzel

Dec 16th 2010, 03:29

Just curious, why AC? several times I've read that high voltage DC is more efficient.

Albert Bezzina

Dec 15th 2010, 22:00

Cont....

3) The interconnector will not guarantee a supply of electricity to our Island in adverse international political upheavals. Most of Europe’s fossil fuel supply comes from outside the block and the supplying countries may not give a hoot if Europe falls into energy starved chaos. Strained political relations could alter supply of these fuels which in turn would increase demand for RE and nuclear generated within the producer state, defaulting on export. In such a scenario we can be left high and dry within a short interval.

4) RE generation locally will remain token projects which will not make much difference on Malta’s projected emissions and definitely will have no effect in contributing to Malta’s energy security. (For energy security read water supply)

Albert Bezzina

Dec 15th 2010, 21:58

The interconnector is necessary. It is essential for RE projects to become viable on Maltese territory as surplus RE generation can flow into the vast European grid.

However, the main benefits for the interconnector being exalted by the authorities is that Malta can reduce its emissions by purchasing electricity from generating plants in other European countries.

1) Some months ago, politicians claimed that Malta can cut down its emissions by getting our electricity generated in other countries. If the source of the imported electricity is conventional fossil fuel powered (coal, fuel oil or gas), I doubt whether the emissions (especially CO2) released in other countries on OUR behalf can be offloaded onto the producer state’s emissions inventory.

2) With a scramble by all European countries to cut down on their CO2 emissions to reach their respective EU emissions targets, I find it hard to believe that RE and nuclear sourced electricity will be available in excess and not be given to the highest bidder. The assumption that there will always be cheap, clean electricity available to us on demand is naive.

Victoria Micalleef

Dec 15th 2010, 18:58

This is just what we want in Italy: charge the Maltese a high price for electricity..Ha! Ha!

And whenthe price of electricity is doubled by 2020 you will all say I told you so.

This is a money making exercise with little if any thought for Malta. The Italians cream off the fat at the Maltese expense.

John Pace

Dec 15th 2010, 12:25

The big customers will get the cheap electricity. Malta will have to accept what's left

albert leone ganado

Dec 15th 2010, 10:03

Well done to all . We now have an alternative source of power which I incidentally proposed over twenty years ago in this paper but was of course laughed at by the so called experts at that time.
However now that we have an alternative source of power, it is time that the EneMalta monopoly in energy supply distribution is dismantled. We are paying for the inefficiences of this power provider and it is time that energy generation is separated from energy distribution. I am sure that Sicilian and Italian operators will then be able to offer attractive and better pricing packages to EneMalta. I hope that the EU competition commissioner will insist on this matter as it is not only an obligation under EU funding rules but will offer a potential relief to the high energy pricing we Maltese long suffering consumers pay.
One has to congratulate the planners in taking the opportunity of passing a large number of digital communication cables together with the energy cable. They will no doubt help to turn Malta into a more effective hub for digital communications and I suppose strengthen the vision of turning Malta into a truly highspeed smart virtual Island.