LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese authorities can start laying down a second interconnector to Sicily after Italy approved the final development permit. This was announced by Miriam Dalli, Maltàs Energy Minister.
The permit, issued by the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, keeps the project on track for final commissioning in 2026.
The 122km-long high voltage cable will connect Maghtab with Ragusa in southern Sicily and will carry a maximum of 225MW of electricity. The project will cost 300 million with EU funds covering 165 million under the European Regional Development Fund 2021-2027.
At least 99km of the cable will be laid on the seabed in the Sicily-Malta Channel. The subsea cable will be buried in a ditch dug into the seabed or where this is not possible be protected by rocks.
This is the second interconnector between Malta and Italy, the first having been commissioned in 2015.
Minister Dalli said a second interconnector will give Malta greater security of supply and enables Malta to export any additional electricity generated by large-scale renewable energy projects. Minister thanked her Italian counterpart Gilberto Pichetto Fratin for the close cooperation.
Interconnect Malta, a Maltese government company that is tasked with the project, has already obtained the development permit from the Maltese planning authorities. The company has also been working on the tendering processes for the various engineering, procurement and construction contracts.
“Following the start of civil works in Malta, with the construction of culverts in Maghtab already underway, this favourable outcome will allow us also to initiate works on the 21km stretch between Marina di Ragusa and Ragusa in Italy and in due course, and the channel between the two states,” engineer Joseph Vassallo said.
– Photo: Enemalta –
(ITALPRESS).
