Enemalta has enough capacity to meet summer demand - minister
Investment in photovoltaics have helped reduce demand from Enemalta. File photo.
Enemalta has more than enough capacity to meet to demand which usually peaks in summer, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said this morning.
Asked if Enemalta was taking any measures to ensure that there was enough supply to meet demand, Mr Fenech said that recent developments, whereby people invested in photovoltaic panels, solar water heaters and energy saving bulbs, reduced the load on Enemalta, which put the corporation in a better position.
The minister was speaking while touring Enemalta's Paceville distribution centre and the implementation of the Scada project, which is the computerisation of the various distribution centres.
Scada monitors all Enemalta's equipment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The minister explained that, so far, both power stations and 12 of the 18 distribution centres were connected to Scada. The rest would be connected by June 2012.
The Scada contract, which cost €5 million, was awarded to IBM in 2009. It is part of Enemalta's programme of investment of over €77 million, which includes the power station, the interconnector and the construction of new distribution centres to reduce the load on other centres such as the one in Paceville.
The latter supplied electricity to all hotels and restaurants in the St Julian's/Sliema area as well as to Mater Dei Hospital.
The Scada equipment monitors the distribution of electricity. Through it, the distribution centres are operated remotely from a single hub which is the new control room at Marsa.
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Christian Sciberras
Jul 2nd 2011, 23:04
We have enough water, for now. We'll see to the eventual demand next year.
Electricity? Same thing. If it works (for now), why bother.
(that's called sarcasm)
Heck, wish I could do it like this at work, would probably get back a couple of free hours each day...
Hmm, maybe that explains why government workers, bus drivers etc tend to be found in bars...
E. Azzopardi
Jul 1st 2011, 15:05
Very nice to hear, but we hear this before every summer. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The people do not care if this boiler trips or the other sleeps or whatever. Now, more than ever with these rates. It is useless boasting about all this if, hopefully not, we shall have several power cuts from now on. Time will tell.
Mr mario gellel
Jul 1st 2011, 15:01
DO YOU WONNA BET ON IT, TONIO ? AND IF YOU LOSE YOU WILL GIVE UP YOUR POST ?
OPPPS, I THINK I ASKED TOO MUCH, OR DID I ?????
Hamish Schembri
Jul 1st 2011, 14:05
Going to place this article in my favourites such that when there is a power failuer I can include the link in every article reporting the usual summer power failure hahahaha.
Ian Vella
Jul 1st 2011, 13:37
Up to around ten years ago, the highest level of electricity demand would always be reached in winter, however the increased usage of air conditioners in summers pushed the summer demands from highs of only 281MW in the summer of 1997 to more than 400 MW in recent years.
Mr Jo Camm
Jul 1st 2011, 14:42
Mr Calleja - The Socialists think with a socialist mind. i.e. "Only the Socialists can do the right things". Whatever goes wrong, goes wrong because it was not done by socialists. (Poor minds).
Mr George Calleja
Jul 1st 2011, 12:45
@ M.Cachia,
How very sarcastic! Are you still rembering what used to happen during the Socialist regime? When we had no electricity AND water for weeks on end!! Money was well invested on photovoltaic eqiupment and solar systems and the Islands are much better served in the seventies and eighties!
Mr Joseph Sammut
Jul 1st 2011, 14:46
Dear Mr Calleja - You cannot absolutely compare today with 40 years ago. We pay through our noses for electricity supply in this country. I sincerely hope that Minister Fenech is right in his predictions this time.
M. Cachia
Jul 1st 2011, 12:20
If Minister Fenech said so that rest assured the opposite will happen!
Mr mark johnson
Jul 1st 2011, 13:02
Thats right I read it and said oh no.
Mr phil sam
Jul 1st 2011, 13:56
I note he has not promised to pay for any damage caused, by power surges or power cuts. Lol.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 1st 2011, 14:54
Get your emergency lights, candles etc ready for the next power failure.