Energy Minister in bilateral meeting with Sicilian President over Malta’s second interconnector

A bilateral meeting between Malta and Sicily was held over the energy interconnection projects linking Malta to Sicily, Italy.

The Maltese delegation, led by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, met with the President of Sicily Sebastiano Musumeci at the Palazzo Orléans.

Discussing the electrical interconnector project, namely the doubling of the current link from Malta to Ragusa, Minister Dalli explained that Malta was exploring different routes for both onshore and offshore parts to improve the security of supply. The process will entail environmental and design studies both onshore and offshore.  The process of collection of data is set to commence in the coming months.

“Strengthening the integration of Malta’s energy supply network to the European grid is necessary to secure supply for the growing energy demand over the medium-to-long term”, Minister Miriam Dalli said. She further explained that a reinforced interconnection would allow for ingress of more renewables as grid resilience and spinning reserve will be improved enabling Malta to reach its environmental targets towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

“The creation of a second interconnector is the best way to respond to the increase in electricity demand that the country will have in the coming years, and for this reason we ask for the collaboration of the regional government to accelerate this process”, reaffirmed Minister Dalli.

Ministry officials and Interconnect Malta representatives accompanied Minister Dalli to the meeting.

Where does Malta’s energy come from?

Malta predominantly relies on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as a source of energy. A controversial company behind Malta’s gas-fired powerstation, Electrogas, buys LNG and burns it for the production of electricity. This electricity is then sold to Enemalta, the state energy company, which distributes it to the country.

Another source of electricity for Malta is through the Malta-Sicily interconnector, and, in 2021, Government approved a €170 million investment that would see a second Malta-Sicily interconnector run parallel. At the time of the announcement regarding the second interconnector, it was envisaged that the project would be completed by 2025.