Malta will be receiving €3.7 million in EU funding for the interconnector gas pipeline studies, coming first out of 25 member state applications.

The Energy and Water agency submitted its funding proposal for the Malta-Italy gas pipeline in October 2017, and received the positive news through the European Commission just yesterday.

The funding amounts to roughly half the costs required to carry out all the necessary studies, such as an environmental impact assessment, a preliminary marine route survey for the entire 150km offshore route and the ‘front-end engineering’ design of the pipeline.

In addition, the €8 million needed for studies also covers financial engineering pertaining to preparations of an investment request and a ‘Cross-border Cost Allocation’ (CBCA) proposal.

Beyond this, preparation works will also take place to begin detailing the tender specifications for the building of the pipeline itself. 

The above studies and preparations are estimated to take some 2 years, Energy Minister Joe Mizzi said. He addressed a press conference on updates surrounding the gas pipeline project with the CEO and other representatives of the Energy and Water Agency.

The application for funding was assessed on a number of core criteria, such as integrating energy markets in order to strengthen the single market, ensuring security of supply and ending energy isolation.

Malta has so far been cut off from the European energy grid, however the completion of this project will change this, in line with the EU’s core security and stability aims.

Earlier last week, Malta Today issued a story about the authorities being warned on possible risks posed by World War II bombs which have not yet detonated. It went on to say that risk assessments being carried out in conjunction with the project should factor this in.

When asked about this, Mizzi called the concerns “amateurish”, stressing that Malta was not the only country to be bombed in World War II, and that there are established practices in place to cater for such risks.

He stressed that relaying such concerns are unnecessary since, in line with what other countries have done when carrying out studies for similar projects, great detail will be entered into to ensure that no unnecessary risks are taken and that no stone is left unturned.