Updated: Long power cuts as third cable fails
Updated 11 p.m.
A third power cable failed this evening, causing fresh misery to thousands of households in the Msida-Swatar-Ta'Xbiex area.
Power has been going off for long periods since yesterday.
Enemalta in a statement early this evening said that following earlier reports regarding the cable fault affecting the Msida, Birkirkara, Swatar and Pieta area, its employees had managed to re-route alternative supply to some of the residents in Birkirkara, Santa Venera and Pieta.
Meanwhile, 'jointing' was taking place and repairs on one of the cables were well underway, whilst repairs would start soon on a second feeder cable which had also developed a fault.
"At around 7pm a different fault, on a separate circuit occurred in parts of Pieta, Msida and Ta' Xbiex area," the corporation said.
10.30 p.m. UPDATE
At 10.30 pm Enemalta said that "the situation is expected to revert back to normal very soon, in the coming hours."
It said employees had repaired one of the main cables which caused the Msida, Santa Venera, Birkirkara, Swatar and Pieta power cut earlier this week and also today. Meanwhile, works were continuing on the second cable.
Furthermore, the fault which affected Pieta, Msida and Ta’ Xbiex had been isolated. Supply to Pieta was restored at 7.53pm whilst supply to Msida and Ta’ Xbiex "should be restored in around an hour."
The original fault developed just before 3 a.m. and affected parts of Floriana, Msida, Birkirkara, Swatar, Santa Venera, Pieta and Guardamangia.
Some areas of Msida, Santa Venera, Pieta and Guardamangia had power restored by 8.30 am. At 9:32 parts of Floriana and Msida were re-energised, whilst electricity was fully restored at 10.09.
Enemalta said its employees had unearthed the faulty cable and commenced repairs. In the meantime, however, the feeder which was used to re-energise the affected areas this morning was affected by another fault.
Whilst regretting every inconvenience caused, Enemalta said it wanted to assure the public that its employees were working around the clock to fix these faults in the shortest time possible.
"Sometimes reconnection is easy as electricity can be supplied from another distribution cable, however sometimes and especially in cases like this of repeated faults on cables supplying the same areas, there is no option but to wait until the cable fault is fixed to restore supply as no alternative source exists. This unfortunately takes longer as it involves locating the damage on a cable which is underground, digging the road and repairing the damaged cable."
A resident of Swatar told timesofmalta:
"It has been the third consecutive day where we have experienced power cuts in Swatar every six hours lasting for about 4 hours each. In summer it is impossible to live without AC or at least fans! Last night was my second sleepless night due to the excessive heat and this is unacceptable in my 'supposed to be' developed nation."
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116 Comments
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Charles W. Sammut
Aug 12th 2012, 10:21
Do EU standards, laws and penalties only apply to Cikku l-Poplu? Sure seems like it.
Charles Micallef
Aug 12th 2012, 09:31
Does anyone out there anyone who is responsible give a hooter about the hardship that power cuts cause to the sick, the old and infirm?
I guess not because they had more than enough time to do something about it and pull Malta out of this third world approach to supplying electricity in 2012!
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Aug 12th 2012, 09:25
Unfortunately years of under investment in the electricity distribution network plus poor management is having its effects. This especially at times of a heat wave where demand has shot up beyond the capacity of the network. I agree fully with Edward Mallia that rather than wait until the network trips and worse still cause damage to the cables ENEMALTA issue hourly bulletins indicating those areas where the load is reaching danger levels. That way we anticipate the problem and hope that responsible households will reduce their energy use. Even reducing their energy consumption by 10% by setting the thermostat of the A/C two degrees higher may do the trick.. It is better to cooperate and perhaps suffer a small inconvenience than spend hours without power and bear the total inconvenience that entails. I think that we should also thank the ENEMALTA engineers because they are performing miracles in working in this heat to restore power as quickly as possible. Criticizing government at this stage will not give us the immediate power we need . Let us hope that in persons of the calibre and exceptional professional ability like that of Dr, Konrad Mizzi the PL has the right people to manage ENEMALTA when elected in the way we expect. a public utility to operate.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Aug 12th 2012, 09:17
We have definetly became a 3rd World Country. All over Malta power cuts resulting in sleepless nights and having to throw all the goods in the fridge and not enjoying the Olympic games. All over Malta we have 2nd hand cars and sub standard infrastructures. As once an important Maltese investor said to Gonzi and Tonio Fenech: GIBTUNA PAJJIZ TAS-SECOND HAND.
Paul Giordimaina
Aug 12th 2012, 09:59
Lapira second konna qabel mela insejt li il gvern tieghek kien xtara il power station minn Sqalija u wara inqas riedu flus tahha ghax kienet ghal riemi.
Charles W. Sammut
Aug 12th 2012, 09:12
"Meanwhile, 'jointing' was taking place and repairs on one of the cables were well underway, whilst repairs would start soon on a second feeder cable which had also developed a fault."
Why "soon" and not immediately? And then you come up with this:
"Whilst regretting every inconvenience caused, Enemalta said it wanted to assure the public that its employees were working around the clock to fix these faults in the shortest time possible."
It is obvious that there are not enough people to tackle simultaneous faults. You incompetent bumblers!
David Magro
Aug 12th 2012, 09:00
Mura gib kieku kien il-Labour fil-gvern....jafu jsibu szuki. Kieku kien il-Labour ghara x`jghidu.Jiftahru tant li ghandna zewg Powerstations, mela l-pjanijiet taghhom kienu hziena. Trid tahseb ghal cables ta kwalita Sr Fenech u mhux tghati tenders ifhimni !!!!
C Baldacchino
Aug 12th 2012, 08:44
Impressjonanti kemm hawn nies ghorriefa fuq din il-gzira. Jigri xi haga u t-tort ta min jkun? Ta' Gonzi!! Nixtieq nara jekk jitilaw il-PL jkollniex minn dawn il-faults u xi tghidu?!! We'll wait and see.
Peppi Borg
Aug 12th 2012, 08:42
The minister should resign now! At least that is hat happens in civilised, developed 2012 countries!!!!
Ronnie Callus
Aug 12th 2012, 08:41
Fejn marru l-weghdi li ghamlulna li daqshekk se jkollkom qtuh ta' dawl ??? Nahseb li kulhadd jikkonkludi li mill ftit hazin morna ghal l-aghar. Fejn hu l-progress li sar tul dawn l-ahhar 25 sena ta' tmexxija Nazzjonalista. Kollox kosmetiku, nghamlu Power Station wara li tant qdiedtna tajjeb tal-Marsa u nhallu l-manuttenzjoni ghal riha. Dan qiesek qed tghid tixtri z-ziemel u ma' tixtrix l-karrettun. Fejn hi l-Akkawntibilta tal-Gvern. Jaf li halla hafna nies bla nifs f'din is-shana kollha tas-sajf, jew ikel jispicca jmurlek u fabbriki jieqfu ghall hin twil. Basta nwahhlu li Smart Meters meta ahna mahna Smart xejn f'dak li qed nghamlu, prijorita ta' xejn. Basta niehdu l-500 euro fil-gimgha zjieda. Din issejhula sincerita ???? Tahliniex zmien aktar Dr.Gonzi bhalma accennghalkom Franco Debono, fejn issa qed tippruvaw tghaddu l-ligijiet horox borox bil-paniku li qabadkom, imma nahseb li-nies tghalmet issa, jekk le mieskina.
Peter Simpson
Aug 12th 2012, 07:40
GonziPN is probably hoping for the weather to cool down,and the cables with them: then he will call an election! Ara fejn wassalna dan il-krejatur ta slogans fittizzji bhal' flimkien kulhadd bla dawl'!! Hilarious!
Victor Pulis
Aug 12th 2012, 07:21
Will the non elected candidates(presumably because they had done a lousy job) be given a golden handshake to make ends meet after the coming elections?!
Charles Micallef
Aug 12th 2012, 02:57
Who ever is going to accept political responsibilty for this third world power supply which is causing so much misery to so many?
Kevin Marks
Aug 12th 2012, 00:01
Total of around 14 hrs with no electricity in swatar is too bloody much eh!!! Hope that we will have a good night sleep today
Ronnie Callus
Aug 12th 2012, 08:56
@ Kevin Marks:
Mela ma tafx Kevin li regu laqtulhom CABLE. !!!!! Il-Hmar il-Makus qed idur id-Dubien ghalih issa. Dak il-queue ta' nies li gabu fuq il-Billboard tal-PN, nies jistennew id-dawl jigi biex forsi jixghelu Fan jew Fridge. Jahsra fhiex wasalnih dan il-pajjiz. Imbghad mhux hekk !! ikun minn jghidlek ! Mur ara kemm ir-restaurants ikollhom nies nhar ta' sibt jew il-hadd. Qiesu ghalihom il-Progress tal-pajjiz jitkejjel fuq jumejn biss. Kieku hawn tant progress li jghidu li hawn ma' mhessniex ghandna dan id-dejn kollu, ghax suppost taxxa tingabar izjed ( jekk qed tingabar kif suppost).
Joseph Micallef
Aug 11th 2012, 23:59
My goodness gracious.... GONZIPN PLEEEEEASEEEE LEAVE US IN PEACE and GO AWAY!!! PLEASE LEAVE!!!
Silvio Agius
Aug 11th 2012, 23:48
These cables are not designed to cater for the heavy demand of electricity. Either because they are being overloaded to their rating or the copper is not of the required standard.
Expect more of these faults if the heat persists. Enemaltas assets are fast corroding .... as its managment after all.
Norbert Mifsud
Aug 11th 2012, 23:27
hope that serious investigations to be performed. ST lost thousand of dollars because of a damaged cable caused by the contractor who was responsible for the new luqa by-pass and tilll now no one paid the mistake . now these three cables. who is going to take the responsability of such events. Lets grow up guys its useless to point at gonzi for the power cuts since he did not cut them by himself but one needs to ask gonzi to point out the culprit of such mishap.
Ronnie Callus
Aug 12th 2012, 09:29
@ Norber Mifsud:
'alla hares tigi tghidli Sur. Mifsud li Gonzi qata l-cables hu, ghax veru ma' nafx fejn inkunu wasalna !!! Imma li jara lil min suppost jghamel xogholu tajjeb qed jghamlu , jista . Bhal perezempju li waqt ix-xogholijiet fejn ikun hemm cables ( li suppost ikunu indikati mill-Ene Malta fuq pjanti) l-Ene Malta jibghatu lil xi hadd josserva ix-xoghol, mhux wara li jintradam kollox u jinqala 'Fault' jigu jghidulna li kien intlaqat cable. Fejn hi s-serjeta !!! jien niftakar li qabel dan kien isir, issa donnu mhux isir, jew inkella jghalqu ghajnejhom. Din nghidulha serjeta jew tbazwir u hela ta' flus il-poplu.
Peter Shaw
Aug 11th 2012, 23:07
Kif qal xi hadd... ISSA DAQSHEKK !!
Alfie Lewis
Aug 11th 2012, 23:02
This blogg is addressed direct to the P.M and the minister responsible for the power station.
At Taxbiex we were without light from 1850hrs untill 22.20., twice in less than 3hrs.
Sirs, since you bluff that you created 2000 jobs, can you please do it again but this employ them with Enemalta and maybe and I mean maybe one day we have brand new cable all over Malta.Last year it was boiler no9, poor thing it got blamed everytime, this year its the cable. May I suggest that next year the reasons Enemalta will have a) people are choping electrical timber pole to use for BBQ,b) the metal pythlons are melting because of the hot weather that we shall have next year.
P.S THANKS A LOT FOR RUINING MY OLYMPIC GAMES
Tony Camilleri
Aug 11th 2012, 23:02
I don't know if it's true, but someone said that the Government has issued a tender for oil lamps (imsiebah) and candles to be given free to every household for the people to enjoy romantic dinners.
Mr Ernest Vella
Aug 11th 2012, 23:01
l-aqwa li ahna kellna d-dawl...x'jimpurtani min haddiehor...issa mhux hekk il-moda...mela nkompli maghha!!!
Mark. Galea
Aug 11th 2012, 22:35
GRAZZI Joseph Bateman Muscat
Grazzi talli ghamilt minn kollox biex twaqqas fl-estensjoni tal-Power Station.
Grazzi talli ghamilt minn kollox biex twaqqaf l-interconnect ma Sqallija.
Ha naraw x'ser taghmel int meta tkun fil-gvern - ghalkemm diga naf x'ser jghid - sibna l-hofra.
R Axisa
Aug 11th 2012, 22:28
Gonzi PN mhux bil-billboard biss hadna 30 sena lura, imma anki bis-sitwazzjoni tad-dawl!
SAVIOUR FARRUGIA
Aug 11th 2012, 22:11
back to the seventies
William Caligari
Aug 11th 2012, 21:52
Hawn Malta ftahir biss ghandna,
mill-bqija kollox brudu!!
Kenneth Galea
Aug 11th 2012, 21:40
@Mary Pace
This is not a summer suitable for animals let alone humans. Like yourself I cannot remember such a hot, oppressive and brutal summer ever apart from the summer of 1998. Yes I do have a good memory but back then power cuts were not a daily occurrence at all!!!!! You go insane when you have one power cut after the other in this hell on earth. I wonder what our summer lovers are saying now, I don't think there will be any summer lovers after experiencing the worst summer ever. And it is still the 11th of August.......
Mario Fava
Aug 11th 2012, 21:27
The Maltese people should sue enemalta for rebates when there are power cuts
Mr B Busuttil
Aug 11th 2012, 20:51
x misthija... x dizastru!! mhux ta b'xejn m ghadomx isemuwa 'smart island' !! tant ahna 'smart' li lanqas kurrent eletrikku ma ghadna sura ta nies!! imbghad irridu ingibu l investiment barrani...
Anthony Grech
Aug 11th 2012, 20:28
Oh Come on Maltese, its only an Enemalta Christmas three effect, on/off/on/off/on/off.
Rich Brad saunders
Aug 11th 2012, 20:17
People back home insist that Malta is an advanced eu member, but since we've been here i do not see it at all, its more like a third world country still mucking about with old equipment that went out years ago in the UK. Sorry you guys must pull your socks up if you want to play with the big boys. My air condition stopped, my huge pool nearly turned into algie and all my food ready for the BBQ had to be slung out.. Thankyou Malta for a nice welcome gesture.
D. Xerri
Aug 11th 2012, 20:10
Enemalta is Struggling ?
Nothing new - Even The Government is Struggling to Hold on to Power with an Internal Division inside its Party.
Colin Camilleri
Aug 11th 2012, 20:09
How can this government attract foreign investment or protect jobs when the incompetence of enemalta is costing the already fragile companies millions of euros. Malta is literally bankrupt....
Frans Aguis
Aug 11th 2012, 19:57
Imhatra li alissa mhux ha jsemmu kemm kien imur id dawl fi zmien mintoff.Nahseb lunika haga li gara fi zmien mintoff li mhux ha jsemmu
D. Xerri
Aug 11th 2012, 20:08
Fi zmien Mintoff l-ewwel haga qed issemmi 30 Sena ilu !
u t-Tieni haga 30 sena ilu konna b`Power Station Wahda bil-Faham !
illum infaqna l-Mijjiet tal-Miljuni tal-Liri f`Power Station ohra Gdida li bnejna f`Dellimara u snin twal ilu weghdna lill poplu li l-Power Station tal-Marsa ta zmien Mintoff li semmejt int kellha tinghalaq imma hemm ghada - u llum b`Zewg Power Stations u 30 sena wara ghadna l-istess !
SAVIOUR FARRUGIA
Aug 11th 2012, 22:22
morna 30 sena lura
Anthony Pace Gouder
Aug 12th 2012, 02:57
Frans ............. fi zmien MINTOFF kien ghad ma kellniex 'state -of-thr -art' power station/s u l-infrastruttura li ghandna illum ! ........fejn intefqu MIJIET TA; MILJUNI ......... Iva ,Irraguna ftit .
pat muscat
Aug 11th 2012, 19:56
A power station with outdated Indian technology, and as usual not paid for, and now this daily GonziPN disgrace without power: politically divided, infrastructure in shambles, financially in the red.! How low can it get?
noel cutajar
Aug 11th 2012, 19:17
in swatar...after 4hrs we have electricity.... is the question is ... for how long... ???
But the most funny thing of them all..... would yu believe it that enemalta car kept going round in circles to find the bloody substation !!!!!!.... So a pizza delivery company can afford a GPS device... whilst ENEMALTA cannot....
Dione Pace
Aug 11th 2012, 19:04
IZ-ZEJJED KOLLU ZEJJED! Din kienet il-hames darba minn nhar il-Hamis filghaxija l'hawn (Msida).
Jekk jinharaqali xi appliance bl-eletriku gej u sejjer, min hu responsabbli?
Martin Busuttil
Aug 12th 2012, 08:45
Hadd, min tridu jkun responsabbli?
L-ufficcju kien inharqilna parti sew mis-sistema tan-network, u taf min hallas ta' din il-hsara, hadd hlief l-imghallem, madwar 5,000 ewro.
Basta jghidulek biex tibghat e-mail, u kopji tal-ircevuti, imma l-hlas minn-naha taghhom ma jasal qatt.
U dan fiz-zmien meta suppost ghandna power station state of the art. Imma l-pajjiz ghadu jiddependi fuq power station (ta' zmien Mintoff) li kien jghidu li kien jarma bl-imbarazz.
Sewwa jghidu, li l-ispizjar milli jkollu jtik!
SHAWN GALEA
Aug 11th 2012, 17:52
i would suggest the people effected contact a lawyer and sue the corporation for damages cause it s something intolerable in 2012 and especially with the prices being paid for electricity.
Justin Spiteri
Aug 11th 2012, 18:52
Class Action Lawsuits have just been introduced in Malta, correct?
Kurt Vella
Aug 11th 2012, 17:28
Of course no Minister, no Chairman, no CEO will carry responsibility for this apparent breakdown/meltdown in EneMalta's distribution network!
cesco di luigi
Aug 11th 2012, 17:45
No, but they sure will line up for their bonuses!
Peter Simpson
Aug 11th 2012, 17:19
We are still without electricity; whilst doing the billboard at Pieta, the GonziPn elction gurus must have had a standby generator whilst printing their 'labour is not working billboard'!
john vernon
Aug 11th 2012, 17:08
As an experienced manager of remote site camps, we always found regular faults with cableing to be down to cheap substandard foreign sourced cable, revert back to cable from a reputable source job fixed not more burn outs, say no more
Mary Pace
Aug 11th 2012, 17:40
Yes and poor workers have to make miracles!
Jay Oatmon
Aug 11th 2012, 21:01
Of course poor quality cable is cheaper and you bury the evidence anyway if you are the contractor.
You can see the way all the pavements are caved in where drainpipes run into the street and trucks have run over them. The answer is simple - higher kerbs, bury the drains deeper and don't use cheap plastic pipe.
My question is would you expect proper quality construction to become normal practice in Malta, or 'cheap and substandard' to continue?
Charles Caruana Carabez
Aug 11th 2012, 16:49
I wonder....it isn't the result of buying the cheapest cable available....is it?
Chris Grillo
Aug 12th 2012, 06:45
I wouldn't be surprised! Isn't every government like that?
J Vassallo
Aug 11th 2012, 16:38
Again power cut just an hour passed its impossible cant take it any more no rest the other night no rest this afternoon tks enemalta I'm full of energy and ready go to work with out sleeping
cesco di luigi
Aug 11th 2012, 16:24
When the politicans want to put on a show at some inaugaration or presentation they are the first in the queue for the photo shoot. When something goes terrbly wrong, consistently and repeatedly, who carries the responsibity..that is the question here...How come no Gatts or Pulis or Pullicinos or Cassars to pose for photos for this big time shambles?????
Mr Emmanuel Muscat
Aug 11th 2012, 16:09
time 16-08 and no electricty in swatar again . are we living in 2012
Ronnie Callus
Aug 11th 2012, 16:06
How many times Ene Malta is going to blame the contractors of hitting a cable. This is being the order of the day, but the true problem is not this but probably of overloading through Air conditions in use and a large amount of high buildings with lifts. Has the lifts and Air Conditioners consumption been included in the energy consumption through the Power Station itself and its lines ??? One hopes so !!!!
Andrew Cumbo
Aug 11th 2012, 16:03
Come on stop, attributing faults to cables. Say the truth ENEMALTA can't reach power demand. It is a big shame that this government build a new power station that cost millions and we are still encountering problems that are deteriorating our economy. When we are supposed to have Marsa power station closed once for all. This is another failure of Gonzipn government.
Mr Emmanuel Muscat
Aug 11th 2012, 15:54
time 15'45 and agian without electricity in swatar
J Vassallo
Aug 11th 2012, 17:13
I agree had to go out the house can't take it any more
W Cassar
Aug 11th 2012, 15:49
So much for EU standards.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Aug 11th 2012, 15:48
issa jwahlu li tal-PL qed jaghmel sabutaggi!!! Mhux hekk l-ewwel kellhom strategija u pjanijiet hziena issa ha naghmlu investigazzjoni!!!
Charles Massa
Aug 11th 2012, 15:31
Naf se jkun ir rizultat tal-investigazzjoni.......l ENEMALTA MA GHANDIEX TORT.
Gerald De Giovanni
Aug 11th 2012, 15:26
.... AND AGAIN no electricity! It's the fourth time in the last 48 hours! It's absolutely rediculous! you'd think with the prices we pay today these things should be something of the past! But of course not! We charge rates for today's standards for a service not even fit 30 years ago!
Mario Camenzuli
Aug 11th 2012, 15:23
And yet again we are currently without electricity at Swatar !
Joe Vella
Aug 11th 2012, 15:13
John Mifsud
Today, 10:28
@ Joe Vella
This is to remind you, just in case you were born yesterday, that your beloved party has been governing our Islands for almost 25 years, half a century, almost a lifetime.
May I also remind you that around 20 years ago we were told that the Delimara power plant will solve our problems.
Ejja nikbru fit, siehbi....... "
@ John Mifsud
When it comes to investing in ones' Country infrastructure it is an ongoing exercise. One cannot take a sabbatical of some 20 odd years or so. Once one neglect to on an on going basis keep investing one will never catch up and if so at a greater cost. Investment that should have done years ago at a minimum cost, nowadays it is costing multiple times . Hopefully, ones the new generating capacity at Delimara comes on stream and the inter-connector to the European Grid is completed next year we will enjoy a much secured source of Energy. However, that doesn't mean that we should stop planning for the future and neither stopping investing in our infrastructure.
Lucienne Dimech
Aug 11th 2012, 14:47
What does it take to have power in this country? It seems that charging more for the utility did not do the trick. We know what the demand is why not cater for it? We do not want excuses anymore we want electricity. The problem is not the rates the problem is not finding the utility. If the utility was there the price won't matter so much. As it is we have the worst of both worlds
paul camilleri
Aug 11th 2012, 14:44
i wonder if we would get compensated for the time we have been without electricity i:e if a family normally uses 4 Kw of electicity an hour and have had the power cut for 4 hours i think it is only fair that enimalta /arms gives that family a rebate .
because more than likely these families would have to hire a generator to keep their food from going bad also shops suffer tremendos losses
George Frendo
Aug 11th 2012, 14:27
Probably hot tarmac caused some damage to the cables as it was stated by earlier !!!!
Adrian Grech
Aug 11th 2012, 14:07
qeda tigri ta spiss din
j brincat
Aug 11th 2012, 13:55
Cable faults, sabotage, investigations, bad roads and what have we.
What matters it's never that is NEVER the fault of our beloved Enemalta - paid out of taxpayers' hard earned money!
(jb)
Paul Cassar
Aug 11th 2012, 13:43
25 YEARS AGO THESE SAME PEOPLE CRITICIZED VEHEMENTLY PL FOR POWER CUTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William Caligari
Aug 11th 2012, 22:07
Paul, now we are under Gonzi PN, I mean everthing
is going in the right direction, suppost!!!!
Ronnie Callus
Aug 11th 2012, 13:26
How long are we going to keep sustaining these power cuts. Does this means that the power cables are being overloaded due to lot of new storey buildings electricity supplies all having lifts not included in Malta's power demand or Air conditions thought of not going to be switched on ??? Something wrong for sure is going on and not all the time Ene Malta blames the contractors of hitting the cables. All these questions should have been put forward by Dr.Gonzi, but probably he is more concerned about Franco Debono's comments.
Peter Simpson
Aug 11th 2012, 12:46
GonziPN Ene Malta is not working!
Mr Emmanuel Muscat
Aug 11th 2012, 12:45
A resident of Swatar told timesofmalta this was the second night in three without power : agree 100%
Claudio Cilia
Aug 11th 2012, 12:32
Wasn't able to sleep in this heat.. it was a nightmare
Kenneth Galea
Aug 11th 2012, 13:56
Dan is-sajf l-iktar, a horrid and brutal summer in all forms. Enemalta cannot keep up with the demand anymore, it is not rocket science, a new and adequate power station is badly needed.
Mary Pace
Aug 11th 2012, 17:46
I agree with you this summer is the worst summer I remember and is a nightmare and living hell. Planning is not a word used by our Government when permission is given to build all these concrete building left right and centre without considering the impact on the the electricity, water supply and drainage systems. Malta is not Popeye trying to carry a load which is over and above its strength.
Victor Pulis
Aug 11th 2012, 12:14
If Enemalta had to launch an investigation everytime thereis a power cut they would have to work 24/7! Powercuts have become the order of the day and if ther's no power cut it's the exception not the rule.
Jennifer Cosaitis
Aug 11th 2012, 12:14
We had four power cuts in the space of 48 hours in Ta' Paris! Shame on you Enemalta!
A Tonna
Aug 11th 2012, 14:38
I can confirm this.
Besides the obvious inconvenieces caused by these cuts, temperatures in fridges and freezers rise faster in this heat. Also, These may also cause damages to a number of electronic equipment and/or appliances.
N Mifsud
Aug 11th 2012, 11:51
We have had enough of the usual typical excuses why the electricity went off! This is the typical summer seasons in Malta. In winter is will be the rain or storm. We are living in the year 2012, members of the EU, and just a tiny rock! Should we keep tolerating this situation? Shame on Enemalta; Shame on Government! This situation is not much better than the dark days of Mintoff!
E. De Marco
Aug 11th 2012, 11:37
A new task-force should be created to solve this problem. All other task-forces (too long a list to mention over here) have solved Malta's problems excellently in the past...
ALBERT FENECH
Aug 11th 2012, 12:12
What about Arriva and Mater Dei - have their problems been solved?
ALBERT FENECH
ALBERT FENECH
Aug 11th 2012, 12:17
.... there again, come to think of it ... what problems? The only problems this country has had are those "invented" by Joe Muscat/PL ... otherwise, everything has been functioning like clockwork e.g. Enemalta, Air Malta etc.
ALBERT FENECH
j brincat
Aug 11th 2012, 11:11
What happened to Vision 2015!
Or was this just a whim?
(jb)
Mark Vella
Aug 11th 2012, 14:57
Power cuts because the Maltese are so rich and can afford A/C running all days and night which might be overloading the cables! :) :)
Ronnie Callus
Aug 11th 2012, 16:11
@ J.Brincat:
They are waiting for the cable between Sicily and Malta to be installed, if not also told that it was hit by a contractor tool.
joseph mifsud
Aug 11th 2012, 11:06
what a shame pls sur ministru warrab min hemm.sipost kontu ghettu lil poplu li dawl mhux ha jinqata iktar.mma kollu bla bla bla.
Joseph Micallef
Aug 11th 2012, 11:03
What a shame on this government. And yet they claim that the labour government of the 80's was so bad in this sector. We're much worse now!!! MUCH MUCH worse!! electricity blackout EVERYDAY, at one place or another... tal-misthijja dan il-gvern eh, hemm bzonn innehhuh min hemm malajr kemm jista jkun ghalix issa it's getting too much!!
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Aug 11th 2012, 11:00
Isna qedin l India
victor tabone
Aug 11th 2012, 11:52
INDIA PAJJIZ KOLLU KIEN BLA DAWL,
A Dimech
Aug 11th 2012, 20:31
Well - it is different - I explain why:-
India has an economy growing 7 to 8% every year - and this is why it is sturggling to keep up.
Malta is in recession - and still we are struggling to keep up!!
Hence I believe India has at least an excuse... we (or better Gonzi) don't!!
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Aug 11th 2012, 10:44
U Enemalta mdejna iktar minn Euro 500,000,000 jew Euro 600,000,000? Fejn marru l-flus, ghas-salarji tar-rolrojsijiet li jhejju l-frejjeg? Ma ninsewx iz-zieda ta' Euro 500 fil-gimgha li taw lilhom infushom il-ministri u zammew mohbija mhux biss mill-parlament izda wkoll mill-grupp parlamentari ta' l-istess Gvern. X'wicc tost, ghar minn zmien il-barunijiet taz-Zmien Nofsani
Edward Mallia
Aug 11th 2012, 10:18
Apart from blackouts by contractor negligence, these daily occurrences may be connected with the high temperatures we have been having all of July and now August. Enemalta has not been giving any figures for the daily peak demand. If this is touching and going above 400MW, the distribution network -- not known to be everywhere in good condition -- will begin to suffer in just the way it seems to be suffering. How about Enemalta giving us a few diurnal peak demand figures, as well as long explnantions for "dangling electricity wires"?
paul camilleri
Aug 11th 2012, 10:13
it is 2021 and yes we still have power failures. one asks why? first of all although we have a semi new power station with a out put which exceeds the output of the old power station. the problem lays within the distribution of the power, we still have old fashion cables spanning our buildings from wall to wall, we have power cables underground buried to be forgotton until someone with a bulldozer gets the permit to build and digs up a cable.
why hasnt our underground power grid been upgraded to have manholes at every junction point to allow easy access and allows refeeding of the faulty joint in a short matter of time.
Jay Oatmon
Aug 11th 2012, 12:43
Malta suffers from poor electricity infrastructure (and other utilities) and also roads, because of cowboy contractors, non enforcement of regulations and of course corruption.
So everything is done on the cheap because it is easy and you bury the evidence of shoddy work and pocket the higher profits.
It is the main failure in Malta - enforcement, enforcement, enforcement - the only things that are enforced are those where a profit can be made (speeding fines for example).
Kevin Muller
Aug 11th 2012, 10:03
I just ask myself where all this cable faults are coming from. The reliable distribution of electricity is not an easy task, but if the infrastructure is build up to standard and maintained well, the frequent occurance of faults like powercuts should not happen. Just take a look at your own meter room and see youself how poor works there are carried out. Wires hanging in the air without any protection covers. In no other european country I have ever seen such a mess. Electricity companies there will refuse to supply you with electricity if works are carried out so badly. Enemalta seems to accept this shabby work, maybe because their own standards are not better. This gives a hint why we have to live with all this faults.
Conrad De Giorgio
Aug 11th 2012, 10:01
There was no supply even on the night before yesterday in same areas ! So the excuse of a fault seems non sense ! It seems that this a scheduled power cut to cope with the high demand , so the fault of this situation is on the authorities !
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 11th 2012, 09:47
Hekk ser nibqghu sejrin, "Now you see me now you don't"
Peter Murray
Aug 11th 2012, 09:46
Antiquated infrastructure and inadequate -read next to none-PPM -thats called PLANNED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE by the way Enemalta -as you seem to be unaware that prevention is not only better than cure-its cheaper!
william cauchi
Aug 11th 2012, 09:42
Has anybody bothered to count the number of power cuts in the last 12 months?
I lost count....................
And what is the usual excuse from Enemalta. Oh, it's the boiler, oh it's the cable, oh it's the contractor digging some trench, oh this, oh that.
About the last one I tell you a story. Some years ago i managed a company that was opening a new shop and we required to dig some trenches. Well unfortunately the contractor cut a power line. I was on the spot asap complaining with the contractor. Well he showed me the sketches the service suppliers had given him, in order to avoid this happening. They were all wrong. Result a whole town without power for a whole day. Is it much better to-day. I have my doubts.
L. Brincat
Aug 11th 2012, 09:33
Parts of Pieta still without power since 3am... Called enemalta and told us that there is a cable fault and will be switching back the power on soon... Jahasra!
Peter Murray
Aug 11th 2012, 09:31
What is the criteria one wonders for reporting power balckouts?As Mellieha has experienced quite a few recently whcih have gone unreported .
j brincat
Aug 11th 2012, 09:14
@J Vassallo
"Smart who is in the goverment not the island"
Are you referring to the smart government that is in coalition?
Is this Smart or political convenience and God only knows how long it will last? A free advice: take a peep at Dr Franco's blog!
(jb)
Joe Vella
Aug 11th 2012, 10:01
@ j brincat, I guess you can call Smart those who for years had neglected to invest in the production of Electricity/water and in the distribution infrastructure of electricity/water. Those are your Socialist friends while they were in Government. Also, just a reminder that the first decision Dom Mintoff took in 1971 was to cancel the building of a Reverse Osmosis plant. For years under your Socialist friends, one had to stick his ears to the Rediffusion to find out when turn on/off the water tap.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Aug 11th 2012, 10:20
Joe Vella, you are simply emphasizing the fact that your Government, although 25 years in power, failed miserably to make good Mintoff's follies. Not using PN generated money mind you, but money that Mintoff's administration left in the till.
John Mifsud
Aug 11th 2012, 10:28
@ Joe Vella
This is to remind you, just in case you were born yesterday, that your beloved party has been governing our Islands for almost 25 years, half a century, almost a lifetime.
May I also remind you that around 20 years ago we were told that the Delimara power plant will solve our problems.
Ejja nikbru ftit, siehbi.......
Wally Vella-Zarb
Aug 11th 2012, 11:12
@ Joe Vella
You are not correct. The decision was to to cancel the distillation plant, not the reverse osmosis. Distillation was and remains the most expensive method of obtaining fresh water from the sea. The first reverse osmosis plant in Malta, supplied by Polymetrics, was scheduled to be operational in late 1982; at the time it was one of the largest facilities in the world. As for your other comment about the electricity infrastructure, were it not for the much-maligned Marsa plant bought from the UK in the early eighties (second-hand, obsolete, 'raċanċ', unreliable, etc) now still in use well after its planned closure, we would be in far deeper sh*t as regards the supply of electrical power.
Angelo Polidano
Aug 11th 2012, 12:39
Ifully agree with all the above comments regarding workmanship, but J.Brincat has always got to bring politics in every subject We will see how better off we will be when PL gets in power. Bet we will be hearing all the excuses that they can think of as an excuse for not keeping their promises. Time will tell.
pat muscat
Aug 11th 2012, 19:58
@ Joe Vella. PN has been around 'working hard' the result half Malta without electricity from the PN investment of Delimara which is not even paid for! Light a candle and curse darkness!
Peter Murray
Aug 11th 2012, 09:11
Why are these regularly and consistently occurring prosaic blackouts considerded as news anymore?
J Vassallo
Aug 11th 2012, 09:02
Smart who is in the goverment not the island
j brincat
Aug 11th 2012, 08:57
Really?
No, it can't be true!
Really not in SMART Malta!
(jb)
Ronnie Callus
Aug 11th 2012, 16:22
'@ J.Brincat:
We are really smart because Ene Malta is installing the Smart Meters although taking them centuries.
Andrew Scicluna
Aug 11th 2012, 23:05
For me when these power cuts being so frequent, means that the election is near !
Please choose the reason of your report below: