The Malta-Sicily Interconnector 2 (IC2) project has reached another major milestone with the arrival, transportation and installation of key electrical equipment, including an auto transformer and shunt reactors, in both Malta and Ragusa, Sicily, the government said.
Operations in Sicily began on 16 July in Pozzallo, where the project's 240MVAr shunt reactor and associated accessories were unloaded from a transport vessel.
During the following night, the shunt reactor was transported from Pozzallo Port to the project site in Ragusa, where installation works commenced shortly afterwards.
These included transferring the reactor from a modular trailer to a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT), manoeuvring the equipment into the substation and accurately positioning it onto its permanent foundation.
In Malta, the unloading and transport of the project's 120MVAr shunt reactor and related ancillary equipment has also been completed.
In collaboration with Transport Malta, the project's 250MVA auto transformer was transported to site, while positioning and installation works for both units are scheduled to continue this week, the statement said.
Energy Minister Miriam Dalli described the development as another important milestone in the delivery of the project.
"This achievement marks another important milestone in the delivery of the IC2. The successful delivery of the auto transformer and shunt reactors in both Malta and Sicily represents a key step towards the completion of the interconnection infrastructure and prepares the ground for the next phase of works," Dalli said.
She said the second interconnector is a strategic national investment that will strengthen Malta's security of electricity supply, enhance the resilience of the electricity network, support the integration of renewable energy sources and contribute to the country's long-term energy and sustainability objectives.
Interconnect Malta executive Noel Darmanin said the operation involved the transportation and installation of exceptionally large and heavy electrical assets, requiring extensive planning and coordination between specialised transport contractors, heavy-lift operators, engineers, port authorities, transport authorities and other stakeholders.
"We are grateful to all authorities and stakeholders involved for their support and collaboration in facilitating these challenging operations safely and successfully," Darmanin said.
Once commissioned, the second interconnector will strengthen Malta's security of electricity supply, enhance the resilience of the national electricity network, increase interconnection capacity with the European grid and facilitate the country's continued transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy system, the statement said.
The €300 million project consists of a new 122-kilometre, 245kV, 225MW, 50Hz electrical cable interconnection between Malta (Magħtab) and Sicily (Ragusa), to be laid parallel to, but at a safe distance from, the existing HVAC cable link commissioned in 2015.
The project has been approved for €261 million in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding under the 2021-2027 programme and has been recognised as an "Operation of Strategic Importance".
According to the project's cost-benefit analysis, the second interconnector will double Malta's connectivity to the European energy grid and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 13.5 million tonnes by supporting greater investment in renewable energy and improving the integration of intermittent sources such as offshore wind and solar power, the statement said.