Enemalta’s €37 million emergency power plant has been installed and is ready for use should one of the country’s main sources of electricity generation fail during periods of peak demand.

The plant was commissioned after Malta faced a spate of power cuts in summer 2023 which left localities without electricity supply for hours – and in some cases, days – during a lengthy heatwave.  Malta experienced more power cuts – although to a lesser degree – this summer.

Enemalta reiterated in a press statement that the power plant is a temporary source, capable of generating 60MW, “to ensure uninterrupted supply in the event of a failure in one of the main generation sources.”

Known as the N-1 principle, this strategy adopted by Enemalta ensures the energy provider's systems are able to serve demand, including during peak hours, even if it loses its single largest generation sources.

“A lot of hard work went into securing this plant. In case a generation source fails due to issues beyond Enemalta’s control, this plant will relieve the loss in the generation capacity,” Enemalta executive chairman Ryan Fava said.

This temporary generation plant, supplied by UNEC Ltd following a public call for tenders, will be leased until the second Malta-Sicily interconnector is completed.

The emergency plant cost the government some €37 million – a cost which was not mentioned in the publication sent to the press.

“This year alone, Enemalta will be investing a total of €55 million to reinforce its electricity infrastructure. Enemalta is also speeding up its work on the action plan to reinforce the island’s distribution system,” the agency said.

Fava explained that Enemalta was working hard on its generation and distribution arms, to deliver a strategy that caters for the long-term energy infrastructure of Malta.

Enemalta said that in just six months, it has laid and energised over 82 kilometres of new medium voltage cables, which has increased the resilience and flexibility of its distribution network.

Enemalta said that it has also commissioned 32 new substations, upgraded 36 existing substations, performed 22 switchgear replacements and 98 new low voltage feeders. These investments will continue in the coming months as Enemalta plans to reinforce the distribution network in other parts of the island, including Gozo.