Enemalta lays over 70km of 11-kv cables ‘to improve quality and resilience of services’

Enemalta has laid over 70km of 11-kilovolt cables for an accelerated distribution network reinforcement plan, it said in a statement.

This was also announced during a meeting with the MCESD, during which Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and Enemalta’s Executive Chairman Ryan Fava updated the council members on the entity’s six-year action plan, which is now in its second year.

With works still ongoing, this plan aims to reinforce the national grid to improve the quality and resilience of services that it provides to its residential and business customers.

Last summer’s weeks-long period of disruptions for businesses and residents, following nationwide power cuts, prompted further works on Malta’s distribution of electricity.

This year, a total of €55 million are being channelled to electricity generation and distribution infrastructure.

In the first six months of 2024, Enemalta said that it has commissioned 26 new substations and upgraded 24 others. In addition, 16 switchgear replacements were carried out.

Preparatory work is underway for two new distribution centres in Naxxar and Siġġiewi and the upgrading of the existing distribution centres in Msida, St Andrew’s (Pembroke), and Buġibba.

Preparations are also underway for other major projects that will be completed in the coming years, including a new 132-kilovolt link between the Magħtab Interconnector Terminal and the Mosta Distribution Centre. This project will consolidate the principal connections between the Malta-Italy Interconnector and the local distribution network.

Ing. Fava noted that reinforcing the grid with 70km of new 11-kilovolt underground cables has created new alternative connections, which will multiply the network’s resilience. This, he added, is almost four times more than the length of medium voltage cables in the last two years.

Furthermore, he highlighted Malta’s 60MW emergency plant on standby, should one of the main generation sources be affected by an emergency.

“With the collaboration of Infrastructure Malta and Transport Malta, Enemalta has laid over 70km of new cables in different localities, adding to the already existing network,” Minister Dalli commented.

Expanding further, she shared that Enemalta’s plans were split between short-, medium- and long-term projects to cater to immediate needs and to plan ahead.

She further noted that with “an ever-growing knowledge-based economy, challenges brought about by climate change and expected investment in an innovative energy sector, a resilient network becomes all the more important.”