Nine-year national plan to strengthen the national grid and energy security
Enemalta launches new branding
A national nine-year plan has been launched to further strengthen and modernise the electricity distribution system in Malta and Gozo, through strong investment in infrastructure, new distribution centres, and additional connections to increase the flexibility and resilience of the national grid.
This was announced during a press conference addressed by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli, and Enemalta’s Executive Chairman, Ing Ryan Fava, during which the nine-year national plan to continue reinforcing the country’s energy distribution infrastructure was presented.
The plan includes 12 new distribution centres, a new 132kV link between Malta and Gozo, and specific projects for Gozo, while preparing the system for economic growth and increased demand in the coming years.
During the same press conference, Enemalta also announced new branding under the message “Energy that moves you!”, highlighting its role as an organisation that delivers an essential service to the country and underlining the importance of energy in our daily lives.
Minister Miriam Dalli stressed that this plan forms part of a broader government vision that plans for the long term while acting now. “What we are talking about today is not a plan on paper. It is a plan that is being implemented. After the summer of 2023, we had a choice. We chose to roll up our sleeves. We accelerated the plan, increased investment, and carried out more work in less time. Today we are seeing the results, and we are preparing our country not only for today, but for the realities of five, ten years from now and beyond.” The Minister also emphasised that this is being done while families and businesses continue to benefit from stable energy bills, in contrast to what has happened in many other countries.
Enemalta’s Executive Chairman, Ing Ryan Fava stated, “Through a phased reinforcement programme, Enemalta has already taken significant steps to improve the reliability of the electricity network in Malta and Gozo. These investments are crucial to continue strengthening the resilience of the network and to ensure a more stable and efficient energy supply for families and businesses. Through this Nine-Year Plan, the national energy distribution system will continue to be reinforced and prepared for future challenges. The new branding of Enemalta’s clearly reflects the strategic direction the company is taking to continue to invest in modern, resilient and sustainable infrastructure that meets the country’s needs today while preparing for the future.”
Over the past two years, €90 million have been invested to strengthen the distribution system. In addition, a further €40 million have been invested in new distribution centres, which are expected to be completed by middle of this year.
Work on the grid is already delivering results. The first phase of the reinforcement programme led to the completion of 83 kilometres of new medium-voltage cables and upgrades to low-voltage networks, resulting in a significant reduction in outage durations. In the second phase, a further 63 kilometres of new underground cables were installed, focusing on strengthening capacity and resilience in localities across Malta and Gozo.
Photo: MEEC/DOI
