Momentum has called for an expansion and modernisation of Malta's electricity network, saying recent power outages have exposed vulnerabilities that require immediate intervention.
The party said investment in physical infrastructure must be accompanied by improved network management and information systems to help Enemalta detect and respond to faults more quickly.
Momentum executive member Dr Alastair Farrugia said it was unacceptable that a major cable fault on Comino reportedly took several hours to locate in 2026, leaving thousands of people without a reliable electricity supply overnight.
"Better technology can certainly help Enemalta detect problems faster, manage faults more effectively and reduce the time people are left without electricity," Farrugia said.
However, he stressed that technology could not replace investment in the electricity network itself, including the renewal of ageing cables, increased transformer capacity and additional backup connections.
"If we want Malta and Gozo to be better protected from major outages, we need to make sure there is enough physical backup capacity to keep the electricity flowing when something goes wrong," he said.
Momentum said the July 2026 outages involved multiple independent faults across medium- and low-voltage distribution networks during exceptionally high temperatures and record electricity demand.
The party said the August outage was linked to an ongoing double 33 kV feeder failure affecting Gozo.
It argued that technologies including Smart Meter Outage Management, Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) and Distributed Fibre-Optic Sensing (DFOS) could significantly reduce the duration of outages and improve the management of faults.
Momentum said Smart Meter Outage Management should be fully integrated within six to 12 months, noting that 92% of Malta's meters were remotely reachable by the end of 2025.
According to the party, an integrated system would automatically identify affected meters, determine impacted phases and substations, and verify when electricity has been restored.
Within 12 to 24 months, Momentum is calling for autonomous FLISR systems to be introduced on 11 kV networks. The technology would automatically locate faults and restore electricity to unaffected sections within minutes, while taking account of electricity load and temperature.
The party also proposed the targeted use of Distributed Fibre-Optic Sensing on high-consequence routes, including the three 33 kV Malta-Comino-Gozo feeders, major 132 kV backbone circuits and cables running through confined tunnels.
Momentum said the technology could help pinpoint cable failures within minutes and reduce the need for lengthy excavation and repair work.
However, it stressed that these systems could not substitute for physical infrastructure upgrades.
"In particular, surviving another two-feeder Gozo failure requires N-2-capable transfer capacity or local emergency generation/storage; software and sensing alone cannot supply electricity through unavailable cables," the party said.
Farrugia concluded that the three proposed technologies, together with cable renewal, increased transformer capacity and greater physical redundancy, would provide a more comprehensive approach to improving Malta's electricity network.