The proposed gas pipeline between Malta and Gela in Sicily has been put on the EU's list of key energy infrastructure projects to integrate Europe’s energy markets and diversify sources.

The list features 195 key 'projects of common interest'  which will help deliver Europe’s energy and climate objectives and form key building blocks of the EU’s Energy Union.

The projects will enable the gradual build-up of the Energy Union by integrating the energy markets in Europe, by diversifying the energy sources and transport routes.

In addition, the PCI's adopted today will help bring an end to the energy isolation of some Member States. They will also boost the level of renewables on the grid, bringing down carbon emissions.

Projects of Common Interest benefit from accelerated permitting procedures and improved regulatory conditions and may be eligible for financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

A budget of €5.35 billion has been allocated to trans-European energy infrastructure under the CEF from 2014-20, helping projects of common interest to get implemented faster and making them more attractive to investors.

The EU also published fact sheets on all member states, including Malta, examining their energy sectors in view of the Energy Union.

See the Malta fact sheet on pdf below.

The Energy Ministry in a statement pointed out that earlier this year, Malta was awarded €400,000 in EU funds under the CEF programme to conduct further studies associated with the gas pipeline.

The ministry recently awarded a contract to Tractabel Engineering S.p.A to conduct further studies on the planned pipeline.

The scope of this study is to identify the optimal 1.2km wide route corridor and terminal points in Gela and at Delimara including the conceptual design of the infrastructure and the preparation of the necessary documentation for the commencement of the permit-granting procedures, both in Malta and Italy.

Tractebel Engineering (TE) is part of GDF SUEZ Group, worldwide leader in power production, energy services, LNG, and transmission, storage, distribution of natural gas. TE has engineered over 60,000 km of gas pipelines and has been involved in the engineering processes of the main European pipelines crossing CEI countries i.e. South Stream, and TAP.

Once finalised, these studies will enable the start of the permit-granting process and the preparation of tender specifications for conducting the necessary EIA studies, marine route survey and detailed engineering design. It is expected that such studies will take 18 months to complete. The Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation Unit (SEWCU) within the Ministry for Energy and Health is responsible for the administration of the grant agreement and to ensure the timely execution of the studies.