Enemalta defends Armier substation plans

Enemalta has defended its plans to build an electricity sub-station in Armier, saying the area between Armier Bay and Torri l-Abjad includes a number of legal residencies, restaurants, farmhouses and rural rooms.

A development application is due to be discussed by the Mepa board tomorrow, with environmental organisations insisting it should be rejected because it will serve a large number of illegal 'boathouses.'

Enemalta said it is obliged to provide electricity within the standard voltage range to its customers. The standard voltage supply is 230V plus or minus 10%. In the area the voltage supply goes below 170V during summer.

The voltage level is determined by the length of the feeders which provide the electricity supply, and the load. In normal circumstances, feeders are approximately 300 meters long and this ensures an acceptable service. The only feeder presently in this area is 1,500 meters long.

"Following the technical specifications in the Network Code and the legal obligations in the Enemalta Act, the building of a substation in this area would ensure an efficient service for the provision of electricity," the corporation said.