Works to install a new 11KV cable stretching 4.5 kilometres between Manoel Island in Gżira and the Ferries in Sliema, will start on Wednesday to strengthen the electricity network in the area. 

The new cable will have a higher capacity to cater for the increased electricity demand in Gżira and Sliema and provide a direct connection from the Manoel Island Distribution Centre, serving central Sliema. 

As part of the same reinforcement works, Enemalta will also lay 2.7 kilometres of new low-voltage cables to further strengthen the low-voltage network in the area. 

The existing cable, which has been in service for several years, is being replaced after it accumulated a high number of joints along the route, making it more prone to faults. 

“This is a section of the network where replacement is the right long-term solution. The new cable will increase our capacity and give us a stronger direct connection into central Sliema, while the installation of new low-voltage cables will further strengthen the low-voltage network in the area,” Enemalta Executive chairman Ing.Ryan Fava said. 

The works will be carried out along the seafront and are expected to take around two months to complete. 

During this period, the bus lane running parallel to the seafront will be closed to allow excavation and cable-laying works to take place. Traffic heading out of Sliema will be reduced to one lane for the duration of the works. 

Enemalta said the project will strengthen supply in one of Malta’s most densely populated areas, where electricity demand has increased considerably in recent years.