Prime Minister Joseph Muscat presided over the signing of a letter of intent on the Malta - Sicily gas pipeline project. Addressing journalists, Minister without portfolio Konrad Mizzi gave a detailed presentation on this project.

He said the pipeline will cost €320 million through which the supply of electricity will be sustainable. The pipeline will run from Delimara to Gela, Sicily. The pipeline has a 22 inch diameter and will run 160 metres under water. The pipeline will stretch all the way from Sicily through a micro tunnel.

By summer 2017, the government will choose a transmission operator. Permits for the procedure to start will be out soon. The pipeline will be 159 km long.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that this is a significant milestone for the energy sector in Malta. He said the government has been working very hard to modernise the energy sector in Malta. "Today's signing is very significant. We found a situation where no permits or system was in place for this much anticipated project. This letter will draft the way forward for this project. It will look into timeframes and deadlines."

He thanked the Italian government for their cooperation.