Ten years ago, at midnight on the December 31, 1999, the Millennium Bug, alias Y2K, passed away. Nobody mourned Y2K then. On the contrary, many breathed a sigh of relief and the memory of Y2K faded away.

In early computer programmes, computer memory was at a premium and only two digits were used to indicate the year. As a number of these programmes were still running, it was feared that these would interpret the date '00' as 1900 with possibly disastrous effects. This was named the Millennium Bug or Y2K for 'Year 2000'.

I met Y2K when I became Enemalta chairman in January 1999. A committee set up by my predecessor had identified all software-based systems, whether running on computers or embedded in equipment.

These were examined for date-dependency and for possible Y2K failure. Suppliers were asked to guarantee Y2K compliance or to provide remedies for non-compliance. All current providers of goods and services were also contacted for any possible interruptions caused by Y2K.

Since Enemalta is a supplier, we were also receiving requests to guarantee Y2K compliance. We decided to hold a seminar to inform the public, who sketched out different scenarios, some so apocalyptic that their materialisation would have meant a return to the Stone Age.

The audience was not satisfied and I only managed to save the day by proposing a second seminar later in the year.

The government set up a task force, code-named Challenge 2000, to oversee the work undertaken nationwide to tackle the problem and to make precautionary arrangements for any emergency that might arise if the 'bug' hit any of our suppliers.

During the seminar, someone suggested having a tanker full of fuel in our harbour, in case the world's navigational system crashed. This was overkill, but we did ensure that our tanks were full.

From the task force's first visit, it became obvious that our record-keeping was unsatisfactory.

The plant at Marsa Power Station was too old for in-built computers. Enemalta engineers had converted some control systems to PC control, but these PCs were recent acquisitions and Y2K compliant, and in any case they could be manually over-ridden.

At Marsa, only the gas turbine was considered a potential problem, so the engineers tested it by advancing the date on the computer system. Nothing happened as the date rolled over to the year 2000.

At Delimara, the situation was different. There were many computer-controlled devices. Although all were relatively recent, suppliers were contacted for the necessary assurances. Software and equipment were updated as necessary.

Towards the end of summer, although quite satisfied with the work done, I decided it would be wise to bring in independent consultants who concluded that, although our paperwork could have been better, we were as prepared as could be.

We then held a second public seminar, but this turned out to be very quiet, with no doomsday scenarios.

I had decided to spend New Year's Eve at the power stations, and I asked my engineering managers to do the same. Not so the engineers, whose union made ridiculous demands. We had decided to man the distribution centres and some sub-stations; even without the engineers we had enough manpower. By having staff on standby at these sites, restoration of power would be much faster. Communications was another worry; fixed and mobile phones might fail because of Y2K.

We set up a control room at Marsa. At one stage, we realised we had no emergency lights and that if all power were lost, we would be operating in the dark.

The media wanted me to guarantee that there would be no power cuts on the night, but I could not give it. No-one guarantees that machinery will not break down.

On New Year's Eve, I first went to Marsa Power Station, and then to Delimara. A few minutes before midnight, we went into the control room. Midnight came and went and nothing happened.

A few minutes later, Minister Josef Bonnici called me and I reported that everything was normal.

Six months later, we experienced a total blackout due to a breaker at Marsa catching fire. I wondered whether the money spent on buying emergency generators for the Millennium Bug had been useful on this particular occasion. Although I asked the question in the right quarters, I never received an answer.

Prof. Ghirlando is a former chairman of Enemalta.