Minister Ian Borg and Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi visited works carried out by Infrastructure Malta for the Grand Harbour Clean Air Project, where foundations for the first frequency converter station have been laid.
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg explained that this will be the first frequency converter station for Malta, and one of the first of its kind on a global level.
“Such an initiative is a showcase of how progressive Malta really is. We are aware of the importance and the dynamism that the Grand Harbour offers to our country and therefore we are seeking to utilise it for the best in order to move forward, in conformity with the EU’s targets for 2030 and 2050, towards more sustainability, cleaner air and a greener lung. It is also important to remind ourselves that this project, which is one of the largest environmental projects our country has ever seen, with an investment of €50 million co-financed with European funds, will reduce more than 90% of air pollution emitted by cruise liners and ro-ro ships at Malta’s principal port and will be contributing to an improved environment for 17,000 families living in the Grand Harbour area. Our commitment remains and we will continue working further for the Malta of tomorrow, an island with the lowest possible emissions and with a higher level of infrastructure at different levels that will benefit all Maltese and Gozitans,” said Minister Ian Borg.
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi explained how this project is part of a bigger project from which €22 million are allocated from European funds. He said that this project will be reducing emissions into the air, as tourist ships and other cargo ships will be able to turn off their engines as they enter the port.
Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi concluded that, “This project is undoubtedly another project of substantial environmental value, in the series of projects carried out in the Grand Harbour area to improve the lives of people living in areas of the Grand Harbour and in the south of the country as a whole.”
The new frequency converter station will include nine transformers ranging from 16 MVA to 21 MVA, three frequency converters and 53 switchgear units to convert electricity to the frequencies required by cruise liners and other ships.
Electrical engineers and technicians will install some 5.5 kilometres of power cables in this building to connect and operate the complex frequency conversion system.
The structure will also include house chillers, backup power systems, fire safety equipment and other control and protection technologies.
Infrastructure Malta is planning to complete the first phase of the Grand Harbour Clean Air Project by 2023
