{"id":55401,"date":"2026-02-21T07:04:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T06:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=55401"},"modified":"2026-02-21T07:04:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T06:04:26","slug":"manufacturing-commences-on-critical-infrastructure-for-second-malta-sicily-interconnector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/manufacturing-commences-on-critical-infrastructure-for-second-malta-sicily-interconnector\/","title":{"rendered":"Manufacturing commences on critical infrastructure for second Malta -Sicily interconnector"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>KEY HIGHLIGHTS<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manufacturing is now underway for the 250MVA Auto-Transformer and Shunt Reactors,\u00a0signaling\u00a0a major shift from design to delivery.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The \u20ac20.2 million contract is being executed by AG Installations in partnership with global manufacturer BEST.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Production is now underway on the critical high-voltage components for the Second Electrical Malta\u2013Sicily Interconnector (IC2), marking a definitive step forward in this project of strategic national importance.<\/p>\n<p>The supplies tender for the Design, Supply, and Installation of a\u00a0<b>245kV 1x250MVA Auto-Transformer, alongside 1x120MVAr and 1x240MVAr Variable Shunt Reactors<\/b>, has now\u00a0commenced\u00a0at the BEST manufacturing plant in\u00a0Turkey. This transition ensures that the essential assets\u00a0required\u00a0for the successful operation of the second interconnector remain on track for delivery.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<b>\u20ac20.2 million<\/b>\u00a0contract is being delivered by the local\u00a0contractor\u00a0AG Installations, working in close collaboration with their supplier, BEST.<\/p>\n<p><i>\u201cWe&#8217;re pushing forward with the implementation of our energy strategy, delivering projects that matter. We&#8217;re making significant investments in our distribution infrastructure, accelerating renewable energy growth, leading the way on battery storage, and progressing on the development of the second interconnector. Together, these initiatives will strengthen our energy security and transform our energy mix by unlocking more renewable energy opportunities.\u201d<\/i> Minister Dr. Miriam Dalli said.<\/p>\n<p>In\u0121. Ismail D\u2019Amato, Chief Executive Officer of Interconnect Malta,\u00a0emphasized\u00a0the significance of this phase<i>:<\/i><i>\u00a0<\/i><i>&#8220;The commencement of manufacturing of the reactors and transformer marks an important milestone in the implementation of IC2. These components are not merely infrastructure; they are the pillars that ensure grid stability and voltage control, without which energy cannot be transmitted through the interconnector. Through its supervision, Interconnect Malta is supporting the delivery of a strategic asset designed to achieve high levels of reliability for the national network. <\/i>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>These specific components, namely, the auto transformer and variable shunt reactors, are required for voltage regulation and reactive power control. Their integration is essential<\/p>\n<p>for\u00a0maintaining\u00a0the overall stability of the national grid and ensuring the safe, efficient transfer of electricity between Malta and Sicily.<\/p>\n<p>The Second Interconnector serves as a cornerstone of the Government\u2019s energy strategy, designed to double Malta\u2019s interconnection capacity and significantly enhance security of supply.<\/p>\n<p>By reducing reliance on local fossil-fuel generation and\u00a0facilitating\u00a0the integration of large-scale renewable energy, IC2 is pivotal to the nation\u2019s green transition. This strategic investment is co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening Malta\u2019s energy resilience and sustainability within the European market.<\/p>\n<p><b>Information about IC2 an EU Funded Project<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The project consists of a new\u202f~122km long\u202f225MW HVAC electrical cable interconnection\u202fthrough a 245kV submarine cable between Malta (Maghtab) and Sicily (Ragusa) to be laid in parallel but at a safe distance to the existing HVAC cable link which was commissioned in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>This \u20ac300 million project\u00a0was approved for ERDF funding, specifically under Priority 2, \u2018Promoting clean and fair energy transition, sustainable wastewater management, and green investment\u2019, and Specific Objective\u00a02.3,\u00a0\u2018Developing smart energy systems, grids, and storage outside the TEN-E network\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The second interconnector will not only increase the security of the electrical supply but will also lead to increased investment in renewable energy, which will help Malta better handle the intermittent nature of green sources like offshore wind and solar.\u00a0Once completed, the 245kV submarine cable will double Malta\u2019s connectivity to the European energy grid.\u00a0According to the project&#8217;s cost-benefit analysis, 13.5 million\u00a0tonnes\u00a0of CO2 emissions will be reduced, enhancing its significance in Malta&#8217;s long-term\u00a0decarbonisation\u00a0strategy.<\/p>\n<p>This project has been\u00a0designated\u00a0as an \u2018Operation of Strategic Importance\u2019 due to its significant contribution to the achievement of national priorities for the 2021-2027\u00a0Programme.\u00a0\u00a0The ERDF funding\u00a0allocated\u00a0to the\u00a0project amounts to \u20ac165 million and will cover more than half of the total investment costs estimated at\u00a0approximately \u20ac300m.<\/p>\n<p>More\u00a0information can be found at:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/icm.mt\/projects\/\">https:\/\/icm.mt\/projects\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_55401\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"55401\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 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The \u20ac20.2 million contract is being executed by AG Installations in partnership with global manufacturer BEST. Production is now underway on the critical high-voltage components for the Second Electrical Malta\u2013Sicily Interconnector (IC2), marking a definitive step [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_55401\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"55401\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"KEY HIGHLIGHTS Manufacturing is now underway for the 250MVA Auto-Transformer and Shunt Reactors,\u00a0signaling\u00a0a major shift from design to delivery. The \u20ac20.2 million contract is being executed by AG Installations in partnership with global manufacturer BEST. Production is now underway on the critical high-voltage components for the Second Electrical Malta\u2013Sicily Interconnector (IC2), marking a definitive step&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55403,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55401\/revisions\/55403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}