Onshore construction works at the Magħtab terminal station for the IC2 project, including extensive cable laying beneath switchgear, installation of new cable boxes and sealing ends, and installation of 132kV cable between the GIS and transformer, were reported as ongoing and having reached key milestones at the Magħtab site in March 2026. This confirms that onshore substation civil/electrical works for IC2 were underway by March 2026.
As announced on 28 March 2026, a scheduled intervention at the Ragusa Terminal Station in Sicily required the temporary shutdown of the existing IC1 Malta–Italy interconnector to safely reroute control cables and prepare foundations for a new 220 kV hybrid switchgear needed to integrate the second Malta–Italy interconnector (IC2). IC1 was subsequently re-energised on 1 April following completion of these works, which InterConnect Malta reported were executed while maintaining full national electricity stability.
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Malta–Italy Interconnector 2 (IC2) is a government‑led HVAC subsea interconnection project developed by InterConnect Malta (ICM) to link the Maltese grid at Magħtab (l‑Għallis/Magħtab terminal) with Terna’s 220 kV network at Ragusa, Sicily. The link is designed to increase Malta’s cross‑border tr...
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IC2, Interconnector 2, Inter Connector 2, Malta Sicily Cable Link 2, second Malta-Sicily cable link, second Malta-Italy interconnector, Malta–Italy Interconnector 2
Site visit briefing reporting construction progress on IC2: in Sicily, 50% of trenching along a 20.7 km route completed; in Malta, 66% of trenching completed; recent works at Magħtab terminal station included installation of terminations and plugs.
Identification and Clearance (ID&C) campaign commenced to investigate and clear magnetic targets (reduced to 393 after analysis) found along the 99km route; activities include ROV and diver inspections, recovery/management of non‑hazardous objects, and coordination with authorities/Explosive Ordnance Disposal if unexploded ordnance is found.
Detailed Marine Route Survey (DMRS) for the Second Interconnector was completed, refining the 99km submarine cable route between Malta and Sicily.
On 21 February 2026, Interconnect Malta reported via The Malta Independent that manufacturing has commenced at the BEST plant in Turkey on key high‑voltage components for the Second Malta‑Sicily Interconnector (IC2), specifically a 245 kV 1x250 MVA auto‑transformer and 1x120 MVAr and 1x240 MVAr variable shunt reactors. The €20.2 million contract for the design, supply and installation of these components is being delivered by local contractor AG Installations in close collaboration with supplier BEST, marking an important manufacturing milestone for IC2.
By 2025, onshore high-voltage cable installation for IC2 had started in Ragusa, Sicily, where physical cable laying works along the 21 km route were underway, with around 6 km of trenches completed and 4 km of cable already installed.
ICM signed the tender with PowerFix JV for the supply and installation of a 132 kV variable shunt reactor, including associated civil works, at the Magħtab terminal station, completing a key onshore substation package for IC2.
By early December 2025, physical onshore cable installation for IC2 in Ragusa, Sicily was underway, with approximately 6 km of trenches completed and 4 km of high-voltage cable already laid along the 21 km onshore route to the Ragusa terminal station.
By 2 December 2025, onshore construction for the Malta–Sicily Interconnector 2 had advanced significantly, with land cable works in Ragusa underway over the 21 km route, including 6 km of trenches completed and 4 km of cable laid, while Terna Energy Solutions was completing civil works for the 220 kV shunt reactor foundations at the Ragusa terminal station. In Malta, following delivery of 220 kV cables, trenching works had commenced at the Magħtab terminal ahead of cable installation, and manufacturing of subsea and land cables continued in parallel, with fabrication of two 220 kV shunt reactors and a 220 kV/132 kV autotransformer scheduled to start in the following months.
As part of the Detailed Marine Survey campaign that started in September 2025 for Malta Sicily Cable Link 2, NextGeo initiated magnetometer-based UXO checks along the 100 km subsea corridor between Sicily and Malta to detect and de-risk potential unexploded ordnance hazards ahead of offshore cable installation.
On 21 September 2025, a specialised survey vessel operated by NextGeo was deployed to begin a Detailed Marine Survey (DMS) for the Malta–Italy Interconnector 2, mapping the seabed along the planned cable corridor between Magħtab and Ragusa. The survey aims to confirm seabed conditions, de-risk the offshore route, and optimise burial and protection strategies for the 245 kV subsea cable.
Nexans reached a key construction milestone on the Malta–Sicily Interconnector 2 project when production of project components was reported to be well underway, with fibre optic elements being manufactured at its Rognan plant in Norway and almost half of the required 104 km of fibre already produced, tested and shipped to its high-voltage cable plant in Charleston, South Carolina, where subsea cable production and testing for the 245 kV HVAC interconnector are ongoing.
On 8 July 2025, the European Investment Bank approved EUR 168 million of financing for the SECOND INTERCONNECTOR MALTA SICILIA project (Malta Sicily Cable Link 2), marking formal EIB capital support for construction of the new 225 MW, 220 kV subsea electricity interconnector between Maghtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily.
In July 2025, InterConnect Malta reported that additional sections of the onshore cables for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector were being manufactured in Turkey under tender CT3003/2024, while the first Factory Acceptance Test was completed on 50 km of fibre-optic cable, which was then shipped to the United States for assembly into the subsea cable under tender CT3008/2024.
In June 2025, Nexans AS began manufacturing the subsea cable conductor and fibre-optic cable for the Malta–Sicily IC2 interconnector under subsea cable tender CT3008/2024, marking the start of subsea cable production for the project.
In June 2025, Interconnect Malta awarded the Owner’s Engineer contract for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector (tender CT3032/2024) to Rina Consulting S.p.A. and Aventa Italia S.r.l., confirming their appointment as the Owner’s Engineer team for the subsea cable link between Malta and Italy.
ICM formally awarded Nexans a major EPC contract for the IC2 subsea cable system, under which Nexans will manufacture and install the high‑voltage submarine cable linking Magħtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily, with production taking place at its Charleston, South Carolina plant and fibre‑optic elements manufactured in Rognan, Norway.
In March 2025, InterConnect Malta issued tender ICM/TD 15/25, launching procurement for the provision of insurance advisory services to support the second Malta–Sicily cable interconnector and associated utility-scale battery energy storage facilities.
InterConnect Malta issued a fresh tender inviting parties to provide Owner’s Engineer services for the entire IC2 project, covering oversight of design and execution activities for the second Malta–Italy interconnector.
In February 2025, InterConnect Malta issued tender CT3031/2024 for the supply and installation of a 132 kV variable shunt reactor at the Magħtab terminal station, initiating procurement for this key substation component of the second Malta–Sicily interconnector project.
In February 2025, Interconnect Malta reported that onshore cable production commenced under tender CT3003/2024 for the manufacture and installation of the onshore high-voltage and fibre-optic cables for the second Malta–Sicily electrical interconnector (IC2). This marks the start of factory manufacturing for the project’s onshore cable system under the dedicated onshore cables contract.
In February 2025, Interconnect Malta awarded switchgear tender CT3017/2024 to Terna Rete Italia S.p.A., appointing the company as supplier for the 220 kV switchgear and associated works for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector (IC2), including supply and installation of switchgear, fire suppression systems, fire walls, and control system upgrades.
By January 2025, the Malta–Italy Interconnector 2 had obtained its final approval in Italy after securing a permit from the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), providing overall authorisation for the second Malta–Sicily cable link.
By January 2025, works under contract ICM/TD 107/23 for the excavation and construction of a walkthrough culvert within the Magħtab terminal station were completed, marking the finish of this enabling civil works package for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector (IC2).
Onshore construction for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 (IC2) began in the fourth quarter of 2024, with works starting at the Maghtab terminal station in Malta and at the Ragusa substation area in Sicily following the issue of the Italian construction permit in Q3 2024.
In November 2024, the Sicily Region granted the Intesa Finale, a formal regional approval for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 project, marking a key step in the Italian authorisation process.
ICM published a tender for the services of an Owner’s Engineer to oversee the offshore works for the IC2 interconnector, covering technical supervision of the subsea cable installation phase.
SELT SpA was awarded a €34.2 million contract for the manufacture, trenching, installation and restoration of IC2’s onshore high‑voltage cables, comprising approximately 21 km from Marina di Ragusa to the Ragusa 220 kV substation in Sicily and 1.8 km between l‑Għallis and the Magħtab terminal in Malta.
In the third quarter of 2024, a construction permit was issued in Italy for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 project, enabling the start of onshore works for the interconnector in both Malta and Ragusa later that year.
Interconnect Malta announced a recommendation for award of a €34.2 million contract to SELT SpA for the IC2 onshore cable package, selecting the company to supply, trench, install and restore 21 km of high‑voltage cable in Sicily and 1.8 km of cable in Malta, subject to final contract formalities.
A contract to install two shunt reactors at Ragusa and Maghtab and a transformer for the IC2 interconnector was awarded to AG Installations, a UK‑based electrical installations provider, covering key high‑voltage substation equipment on both sides of the link.
In August 2024, InterConnect Malta issued tender CT3017/2024 for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2, covering the supply and installation of 220 kV switchgear, a fire suppression system, construction of fire walls, and control system upgrades for IC2 substations in Malta and Sicily.
In June 2024, Interconnect Malta’s Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 (IC2) project was approved for co‑financing under Malta’s 2021–2027 ERDF/CF/JTF Programme, with an ERDF contribution of approximately €165.35 million towards the roughly €300 million, 225 MW, 122 km HVAC interconnector between Maghtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily. The grant funding, designated as an Operation of Strategic Importance, will cover more than half of the project’s investment costs and supports Malta’s strategy to strengthen interconnection with the EU grid and meet climate and energy targets.
ICM issued an EPC tender for the procurement, manufacturing, transport, laying, protection and commissioning of the IC2 subsea cable and landfall connections in Sicily and Malta.
In June 2024, the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 (IC2) was approved within the 2021–2027 ERDF/CF/JTF Programme for Malta and designated as an “Operation of Strategic Importance,” recognising its strategic role in national energy priorities and enabling allocation of ERDF support under Priority 2, Specific Objective 2.3.
Interconnect Malta reports that the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 (IC2) project was declared climate proofed following an assessment by the European Commission, confirming compliance with EU climate resilience requirements under the 2021–2027 ERDF funding framework.
In May 2024, Interconnect Malta issued tender ICM/TD 46/24 for a project supervisor to oversee the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 during the design and construction stages and to provide related health and safety services.
The contract for the excavation and construction of a walkthrough culvert at the Maghtab terminal station was awarded, marking completion of procurement for this civil works package associated with IC2’s connection into the Maltese grid.
In March 2024, InterConnect Malta (ICM) re-issued tender CT3004/2024 for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 project, inviting bids for the design, supply and installation of a 245 kV 1x250 MVA auto-transformer and 1x120 MVAr plus 1x240 MVAr variable shunt reactors for the second Malta–Italy electrical interconnector (IC2). This procurement notice forms part of the equipment package for the new 245 kV interconnector between Maghtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily.
Following Planning Authority approval for Interconnector 2 on 18 January 2024, Interconnect Malta announced that it was starting to publish calls for offers for the implementation of the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2, initiating the main procurement phase for the project.
On 18 January 2024, the Malta Planning Authority granted the development permit for IC2, authorising the land and subsea cable works between the Enemalta 132 kV Magħtab Terminal Station and the median line in the Malta–Sicily Channel.
In January 2024, Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) commenced the formal statutory authorisation process for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector (IC2), marking the official start of the Italian permitting procedure following submission of the Autorizzazione Unica application in 2023.
ICM published the first EPC supplies tender (CT3032/2023) for the design, supply and installation of a 245 kV auto‑transformer and two variable shunt reactors for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector.
By October 2023, the public consultation on Malta’s development permit application for Interconnector 2 had been completed, marking the close of the statutory consultation phase on the planning consent for the project’s Maltese works.
Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 was completed, finalising the technical design and specifications for the 122 km, 225 MW HVAC interconnector and providing the basis for subsequent permitting and procurement of major equipment and works.
ICM issued a prior information notice (PIN) for the future procurement of two shunt reactors and one transformer for the IC2 terminals at Maghtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily, signalling upcoming high‑voltage equipment tenders.
In August 2023, Interconnect Malta submitted all required documentation to Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) to apply for the Single Permitting Decree (Autorizzazione Unica) for the Italian section of IC2.
On 26 August 2023, Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority approved the Environmental Impact Assessment for Interconnector 2, confirming that the second Malta–Italy submarine cable project would not have negative impacts on marine and terrestrial environments, subject to agreed mitigation measures.
In May 2023, Interconnect Malta finalised all Environmental Impact Assessment chapters for the Maltese section of IC2 and submitted the EIA documentation to Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority for review.
By March 2023, Fugro Italy had completed the preliminary marine route survey for the Malta Sicily Cable Link 2, with Interconnect Malta noting that PMRS field activities were finalised in early 2023 and NS Energy reporting overall survey completion in March, providing the geophysical data needed to refine the 122 km interconnector route and support subsequent engineering and permitting.
By January 2023, field activities for the Preliminary Marine Route Survey (PMRS) for the Malta–Sicily Interconnector 2 were completed, providing detailed geophysical information along the offshore route between Malta and Ragusa. Interconnect Malta reports the completion of these PMRS works, which were carried out by Fugro Italy and underpin the project’s engineering design and environmental assessments.
In October 2022, Interconnect Malta awarded both Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultancy tenders for the 2nd Malta-Sicily cable link, appointing HPC Italia S.r.l. to undertake the Italian EIA and AIS Environment Ltd. to carry out the Maltese EIA, thereby securing specialist consultants to lead the environmental studies on each side of the interconnector route.
The FEED tender for the IC2 interconnector was awarded to a joint venture between CESI S.p.A and Techfem S.p.A, enabling the project teams to begin detailed front-end engineering design for the 225 MW HVAC cable link.
Following award of the Preliminary Marine Route Survey (PMRS) contract to Fugro Italy, Interconnect Malta kicked off offshore surveying activities for the Malta–Sicily Interconnector 2 in August 2022. The PMRS campaign began collecting geophysical data along the planned subsea cable route between Malta and Sicily to refine routing and de-risk later installation.
In August 2022, following a competitive tender, Interconnect Malta awarded the Preliminary Marine Route Survey (PMRS) contract for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 offshore corridor to Fugro Italy S.p.A., enabling marine surveying activities to commence.
ICM awarded the Preliminary Marine Route Survey (PMRS) contract for the IC2 submarine cable route to Fugro Italy S.p.A., after which PMRS field surveying activities commenced along the offshore corridor between Malta and Sicily.
Two tenders were issued by ICM to procure consultants to prepare the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the IC2 interconnector in both Malta and Sicily.
In June–July 2022, Malta’s Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) carried out a public consultation on the IC2 project, inviting stakeholder feedback on the planned second Malta–Sicily electricity interconnector.
Interconnect Malta submitted a development application to the Malta Planning Authority in May 2022 for the second Malta–Sicily electricity interconnector (IC2), covering the Maltese section of the 122 km, 225 MW HVAC cable link between Magħtab and Ragusa.
ICM launched a tender for Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) services for the IC2 project, inviting bids to define the technical design and specifications for the new Malta–Sicily HVAC cable link.
Interconnect Malta (ICM) submitted a grid connection request to Terna S.p.A., the Italian transmission system operator, for the Malta–Sicily Cable Link 2 (IC2), initiating the formal process to connect the new 225 MW HVAC interconnector between Maghtab in Malta and the Ragusa 220 kV substation in Sicily to the Italian transmission network.
ICM issued a call for tenders for a Preliminary Marine Route Survey (PMRS) of the offshore route for the IC2 interconnector, seeking a contractor to carry out detailed marine surveys between Malta and Sicily.
Interconnect Malta (ICM) completed a preliminary route identification report for the second Malta–Sicily interconnector (IC2), assessing alternative cable corridors between Malta and Ragusa in Sicily to inform subsequent permitting, environmental assessment and engineering design work.
In June 2021, the cabinet of the Government of Malta decided to proceed with construction of the second Malta–Sicily interconnector (IC2) and delegated Interconnect Malta (ICM) to develop and implement the approximately 122 km, 225 MW HVAC cable link between Maghtab and Ragusa, marking the formal investment decision to move the project forward.
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