An investment of €33 million that makes Malta one of the first countries in Europe with a provision of shore-to-ship electrical energy
The onshore power supply project that introduced an electricity system from the ground for cruise liners in Port il-Kbir starts operating. A project with an investment of €33 million co-financed by the European fund Connecting Europe Facility , which means a drastic reduction of 90% of the pollution generated by ships entering the Grand Harbour. A project which means that these ships turn off their engines and generators when they are docked in the Port. This project will lead to a considerable improvement in air quality for around 17,000 families living in this part of the country.
Prime Minister Robert Abela referred to this day as one that should remain marked in the environmental core that we are carrying out. An important project for a more sustainable and innovative Malta. He claimed that our ports, as an island country, are the heart of our economy as they facilitate trade and tourism. While he explained that the opportunities that our ports give us, also bring with them challenges. For which the Government is responding with projects like these, which are placing our country as a pioneer in sustainable maritime practices.
The Prime Minister reiterated that these are the results in what is an environmental core, which despite what they look like, because you are not making a garden, or an infrastructural project, are results that will be felt in the most important aspect; it strengthened the people.
“Very satisfied that we started this ambitious project towards the end of 2020, when we were in a pandemic. There instead we were giving up, we were starting this type of investment. An investment that places it as one of the best projects of its kind in Europe, with Malta being one of the first countries with a shore-to-ship electrical power supply capable of supplying a maximum of five cruise-liners in the same time. But, we didn’t stop here. This is a project that we will be extending not only in the Grand Harbour but also in the Free Port,” said the Prime Minister.
He concluded by asserting that the Government is committed and has the ambition to do more as part of the economic transition.
The project provides shore power to cruise liners, allowing them to turn off their engines while docked. This transition is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 40%, equivalent to a 36.6% reduction in greenhouse gases, or approximately 30,400 tons of CO2 per year.
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, and Public Works Chris Bonett, spoke about the collaboration effort behind the project and referred to it as an achievement that testifies to the hard work and dedication of Infrastructure Malta , Transport Malta, and all the partners, where we continued to invest in the infrastructure and in our environment, to ensure cleaner air and a better quality of life for the residents of the Greater Port area.
The new system, which can handle up to five cruise-liners at the same time at Pinto Wharf, Deep Water Quay, and Boiler Wharf, provides a total of 64MVA of shore power. The infrastructure operates with voltages of 11KV or 5.5KV and frequencies of 50 or 60Hz, supported by frequency converter stations equipped with 18 transformers and four frequency converters, which distribute electricity through of 90 kilometers of power cables.
This project was inaugurated by supplying electricity to the cruise-liner MSC World Europa which was docked in Grand Harbour. Head for the energy core within MSC Cruises, Michele Francioni, described the energy generated by the quay for the ships raised as an important element towards the commitment in favor of decarbonisation. He explained how a large part of the cruise-liner company’s fleet is equipped to eliminate emissions and help improve air quality when the ships are docked and turn off their engines to take the electricity from the ground. He explained how a large part of the cruise-liner company’s fleet is equipped to eliminate emissions and help improve air quality when the ships are docked and turn off their engines to take the electricity from the ground.
“It is an honor for us to be here in Malta, which is a pioneer in energy generation through shore-to-ship technology in the Mediterranean, a major market for the MSC company. We look forward to more ports in the Mediterranean being equipped like the one in Malta so that the cruise-liner industry and the maritime industry contribute more to a reduction in emissions”, said Michele Francioni.
This project not only strengthens the environmental sustainability of Malta’s ports but also complies with the objectives of the EU and Malta regarding climate change, and contributes to the reduction of the carbon footprint associated with the port activities and the decarbonisation of maritime operations.
Photos: DOI/OPM
