Malta - Sicily Interconnector
Cross BorderOperational
MTIT
200 MW220 kV118 km2015Also known as:Malta–Italy interconnector, MT–IT interconnector, Malta–Sicily 220 kV link, Malta–Sicily HVAC interconnector, Interconnector Malta–Italia, Interconnessione Malta-Sicilia, IC1
Status:Operational
Capacity:200 MW
Project Company:Enemalta plc
Type:cross border
Website:enemalta.com.mt
The Malta–Sicily interconnector is a point-to-point high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) submarine electricity link that synchronously connects Malta’s power system with the Italian transmission network at Ragusa, Sicily. Built to end Malta’s historic isolation from the continental European grid, the interconnector provides a bidirectional transmission path used primarily to import electricity...
Supply Chain (1)
Project Timeline (18)
2 Dec 2022System Restoration
Following completion of the subsea repair works in late 2022, Enemalta and Nexans successfully restored the Malta–Sicily interconnector to operational status, with testing and jointing works enabling the cable to be re‑energised and reintegrated into Malta’s power mix after the storm‑related damage.
24 Nov 2022Cable Repair
By 24 November 2022, Enemalta and Nexans had completed major repair works on the Malta–Italy interconnector at Qalet Marku, cutting out over 1.5 km of anchor‑damaged cable, removing the cast iron shells, installing a new spare cable section stored at Delimara Power Station, and jointing it aboard the cable vessel Nexans CVL Aurora, in a campaign costing around €25 million to enable the interconnector to be re‑energised.
Mar 2022Major Outage
In March 2022, the Malta–Italy subsea interconnector cable was damaged by a vessel’s anchor during a storm near Qalet Marku, forcing Enemalta to switch off the interconnector and supply Malta’s electricity demand from local generation sources while preparations for repair works were made.
Dec 2019Major Outage
In December 2019, the Malta–Sicily interconnector suffered a failure after the subsea cable was damaged by a ship’s anchor, causing power outages in Malta as the link to the Italian grid went out of service.
9 Apr 2015Commercial Operations Full Power
On 9 April 2015 the Malta–Sicily interconnector was formally commissioned and inaugurated at Magħtab by Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, following completion of equipment installation and jointing in December 2014 and system testing begun in January 2015, marking the start of full commercial operation of the 120 km, 200 MW HVAC link between Malta and Ragusa.
Mar 2015First Power
The Malta–Sicily interconnector became operational in March 2015, enabling the first bi-directional transmission of up to 200 MW of electricity between Enemalta’s grid in Malta and Terna’s network in Sicily via the 220 kV subsea and underground cable link between Magħtab/Qalet Marku and Ragusa/Marina di Ragusa.
Jan 2015System Testing
System testing of the Malta–Sicily interconnector began in January 2015, after all equipment installation and cable jointing works in Malta and Sicily had been completed by the end of December 2014. Enemalta and its contractors commenced main testing of the 220 kV, 200 MW HVAC link between Magħtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily to verify performance and reliability ahead of commissioning and formal inauguration in April 2015.
Dec 2014Cable Installation Complete
By the end of December 2014, all equipment installation and cable jointing works for the Malta–Sicily interconnector in both Malta and Sicily had been completed, following earlier laying of the approximately 98km subsea cable between December 2013 and March 2014, leaving the 120km, 220kV HVAC interconnector ready for system testing and subsequent commissioning.
Q3 2014Other Permit Awarded
Licence: Construction authorisations for interconnector installations at Marina di Ragusa
In summer 2014, the necessary authorisations were secured from the Italian authorities to construct the required installations at Marina di Ragusa for the Malta–Italy electricity interconnector, enabling onshore works at the Sicilian landfall and associated infrastructure to proceed.
Mar 2014Cable Installation Complete
Offshore cable installation for the Malta–Sicily interconnector’s roughly 98 km subsea circuit was completed by March 2014, with the C/S Nexans Skagerrak finishing laying the 220 kV subsea cable between Marina di Ragusa in Sicily and Qalet Marku in Malta as part of Enemalta’s 200 MW interconnection to the Italian grid.