Interconnector work on course for completion by end 2013

Michael Magri

Jul 25th 2012, 17:11

"..Replying to questions about the recent power cuts in various localities, Mr Fenech denied that there has been insufficient investment in the distribution network. He said that there are 14,000 11kv cables of which only 15 had failed, due to local issues which were being tackled.."

Correction: According to Minister Fenech, the`Local Issue` for these power cuts WAS, ".. due to the high tempretures we have been getting, the tarmac of the roads got softer and thus the roads gave in a bit to the presure of the traffic, causing damage to the enemalta cables underneath.." LOL:):):):):):):):)

Mr. Fenech.. You either must be some kind of a `Cuc Ministru Malti` to even dare say such a stupid and ridiculous excuse, or else you must still be thinking that WE are some bunch of `Cwiec Maltin`...!!!!!!!!! Of which, as you can see, we are NOT... Because IF that was the case, then with such soft tarmac, we must have a lot of `Car Tracks` now on our roads, due to wheels getting deeper in soft tarmac....!!!!!!

IF THIS IS NOT THE JOKE OF THE YEAR BY MINISTER FENECH, I DON`T KNOW WHAT IS.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

m. borg (slm)

Jul 24th 2012, 16:46

The interconnector should be a back-up and not the main source.

What happens if at the other end there is a strike or there is power failure ?

Is Tonio Fenech going to guarantee un disturbed supply for ever?

Edward Mallia

Jul 24th 2012, 16:12

Meta Delimara tghaddi mit-testing phase, tinghalaq nofs il-Marsa. And when is this testing phase going to end? It is being stretched like a piece of elastic: the 4th of May 2012 said the IPPC permit application; the end of June sometime later; the end of July after that. And may we the general public be informed as to any results of the air quality monitoring programme? Or are these "confidential" as well, sensitive commercial data perhaps? How many more filter bags have ruptured? Have those "malades immaginaires" of Marsaxlokk been persuaded that those supposed smells were in fact non-existent?

Edward Mallia

Jul 24th 2012, 15:58

The head of the Sicilian regional government Francesco Lombardo has just announced his resignation effective end of July. This will lead to early regional elections in October. The Region is facing a serious debt crisis -- non-existent according to Lombardo -- but he is resigning all the same. A recent item on one of the Rai channels described the situation in a small town in the province of Siracusa which with very limited area under trees has 430 "forestali" in employment, more than the whole region of Piemonte! Never mind, Lombardo has assured Minister Fenech that the Interconnector will be delivered on time.
"Min fommu l'Alla" as we and the former inhabitants of Sicily would exclaim.

Edward Mallia

Jul 24th 2012, 14:19

Certain facts are gradually becoming clear. The possibility of loading the interconnector with up to 100MW of EXTRA POWER for up to one hour is almost certainly a reflection of serious doubt on the reliance of the local supply. That would also explain the unusual choice of an Alternating Current (AC) rather than a Direct Current (DC) link. An AC link would be able to respond more quickly than a DC link to a sudden drop in the local supply because of damage to some part of the local system. Of course, the rapidity of response will also be heavily conditioned by the actual sources in Sicily. It is unlikely that Sicily will keep machines on standby -- the state of so-called spinning reserve -- waiting for a large breakdown here. In case this happens Sicily will probably have to deflect energy from its own use to ours and that is bound to take time.
How much time I am not in a position to say just yet.

As to coupling with renewable energy sources and with cheap electricity, Minister Fenech is still too vague for any real estimate to be made. Prices of electricity in Italy are far from low; and the Italian National Grid needs beefing up to increase importation from Slovenia, Switzerland and France. The undersea link between Sicily and the mainland is also being strengthened. Overall the state of the Sicilian regional government is rickety at the moment, with the island facing large debts.

m. borg (slm)

Jul 24th 2012, 13:51

In the 90's EFA promised a power station that would meets Malta's needs and shut down the Marsa plant.

In 2012 the Marsa plant is still operational, a €80 million power station extension promised to solve the power problem, shut down Marsa plant (once more) but everyone knows the story.

Now we are being promised the interconnector from Italy but not before end of 2013. If the interconnector was the solution to ou problems why did gonzipn go for the BWSC extention that is the dirtiest of its kind and not delivering except €4 million in commissions to a lucky few?

On the other hand we have to fork out penalties for the Marsa plant which should have shut down a long time ago.

Ronnie Callus

Jul 24th 2012, 12:32

Mela skont Tonio Fenech la l-interconnector gie jiswa 200 miljun ewro u se' jtina 200 megawatt !! Kull Megawatt ser jigi jiswa Miljun ewro ( Probbli minghajr VAT). Nistennew u naraw, hudu pacenzja.

Ronnie Callus

Jul 24th 2012, 12:28

Alla hares le Sur Tonio Fenech ghax xbajna naqilhu multi mill-Unjoni Ewropeja u ghalih qiesu mhu qed jigri xejn. Din jonqosna wkoll biex aktar igibna ottu Sur.Toniuo Fenech. Ara kemm maqdartu l-Marsa Power Station imnalla kienet hi ghax kieku Malta kienet tkun aktar minghajr Dawl milli bid-Dawl u nghidlek li din tat-servizz hafna aktar milli tat s'issa l-Power station li baqet b'cumnija wahda. Tinshiex Dr.Fenech li ilkom hemm kwazi 25 sena u din il-Power Station li bellajtulna ghadha lanqas biss thallset. Ara duhhan tatna kemm trid ghax anke l-filters qalulna li taru mar-rih !! Issa naraw x'gej bil-cable li lkom tghidu bih, nisperaw li ma' naslhux li meta jfettilhom it-Taljani jaqtulna d-dawl. Dan qed nghidu ghax issa flok sidien ahna sidien huma bhalma konna fi zmien L-Inglizi jew qabel ukoll. Biss jista jkun li le ghax bilhaqq Dr.Gonzi qallilna li ghandu 'Par idejn Sodi' ghalkemm ma' Dr. Pullicino u ohrajn jidhru li ma' hadmhux

m. borg (slm)

Jul 24th 2012, 11:52

Considering the millions spent on the contraversial BWSC pro-type power station extention we are to keep suffering power cuts until the end of 2013. That is official now.

Way to go gonz.

Mario Camilleri

Jul 24th 2012, 11:36

So, so far we have the Marsa and the Delimara power stations of which if it wasn't for the Marsa PS we're living in limbo.
Now we're going to replace the MPS by means of the Sicilian interconnector. So untimely we'll be surrendering to the Italians when ever there is a dispute over for example the territorial waters, irregular immigration from Africa!
And what would happen if the connector fails for some reason or another? We'll be at the mercy and relying totally on the DPS, which in turn is not capable to handle the full load. What then???
What would be the cost of our energy bills then?
http://www.energy.eu/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/01/italy-power-prices-idUSL6E8F10DC20120401

Joseph Cauchi Senior

Jul 24th 2012, 11:21

These are the strategies for the future.

Well done and keep it up!

JC.

Joe A. Borg

Jul 24th 2012, 11:05

How about that truck in the background being OVER LOADED!!

Material being transported from this site is passing through the centre of the Maghtab village and spilling their load along the roads:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120720/local/keep-your-distance.429367

Mr Emanuel Farrugia

Jul 24th 2012, 11:03

Well done Martin, I worked with you at Birgu around 11 years ago. You are very well motivated person with good managerial skills. Keep it up.


Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Coun cil

Mr Duncan Scerri

Jul 24th 2012, 11:02

"He said that a government decision to subsidize Enemalta by €25m this year had kept prices at cheapest level in the circumstances."

Those circumstances being that the government chose the worst of all solutions for the Delimara extension. Higher polluting, untested technology, and some very questionable antics in the tendering process.

Corruption? Almost certainly. But omerta means we'll not hear for a long time.

joseph saliba

Jul 24th 2012, 10:53

Allow me one question not so out of the blues. Has the recent internal PN turmoil in any way hindered the progress of such an enterprise? Was any other sector hindered in any way for that reason?

C Cassar

Jul 24th 2012, 10:51

Fantastic project and of course mostly funded by EU infrastructure funds again.

victor bonello

Jul 24th 2012, 10:43

so does the Minister mean those left without electricity are just complaining out of spite?

Reginald Borg

Jul 24th 2012, 10:42

Auguri ghal dan il-progett siewi!
Izda oqoghdu attenti minn issa: araw kif sejrin tikkontrollaw is-serq li forsi diga qed jigi ppjanat li jsir fil-gejjieni qarib.
Dan diga qed isir madwar id-dinja fejn hemm pipe-lines taz-zejt, gas, ilma etc.

F. Scicluna

Jul 24th 2012, 10:37

for once we are doing a good investment , now we need a gas pipe and with good negotiations with Libya a possible water pipe along the gas pipe. Libya has a lot of water. We are not friends for nothing.