The planning authority has approved a number of minor changes to the tunnel that will hold the electricity interconnector linking Malta and Sicily.

The permit alters the tunnel in two points: the tunnel at Magħtab will be shifted westwards by 100 metres; while the tunnel at St Andrew’s will be re-routed to form a curve instead of a right angle.

The changes, approved yesterday by the planning authority board, were needed because the massive tunnel boring machine is unable to take sharp turns.

The previously approved tunnel was around 4,654 metres long but will now be more than 5,090 metres. The increase in length also means the amount of excavated waste will increase to 111,297 cubic metres from 94,739 cubic metres.

The tunnel starts at the end of another tunnel in Triq tal-Franċiż in Swieqi and runs north-westwards beneath Swieqi towards Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. The proposal also includes a small change to the location of two emergency shafts along the tunnel routes.

This development was considered to be “acceptable” by the planning directorate because it was “a minor modification” to a major infrastructure development of national importance that was “essential” for the electricity supply.

The interconnector is a €200 million project, partly funded by the EU, which, by the end of 2014, should see Malta connected to the European electricity grid.

The project is essentially an electricity cable capable of delivering 200 megawatts linking Magħtab to Ragusa in Sicily and featured in the run up to the general election.