Enemalta Corporation has entrusted an Italian company to carry out the diversion of their existing 132KV cables, outsourcing the work since it has no in-house knowledge of jointing and terminating cables in the 132KV voltage range.

Prysmian Cables and Systems, formerly known as Pirelli Cavi & Sistemi, will carry out the diversion of their existing 132KV cables on site where the new General Soft Drinks factory is being built.

The entire cost of the project runs into thousands of Malta liri, with Prysmian supplying the jointers and supervising engineer.

Other cables, the 33KV and 11KV in the vicinity of the HV cables, will also be diverted by a local contractor with the assistance of Enemalta personnel who have the necessary experience.

The work – which will be completed in March – will consist of cutting the existing outgoing cables from the Marsa South Distribution Centre that feeds the Mosta Distribution Centre and is situated in the Marsa racecourse.

It involves laying six lengths of 300 metres of new XLPE cables in the tunnel that is being constructed, making six straight joints between the new and existing cables and terminating the new cables on the 132KV GIS Switchgear at Marsa Distribution Centre.

In order not to disrupt the electricity supply to the North of Malta and Gozo, Enemalta plans to carry out the work in phases to reduce the electricity cuts to the areas concerned.