Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1505128
AS announced last week, En- emalta is doubling its planned investment in the electricity distribution infrastructure, re- confirming our commitment to keep improving the quality of service to our customers and overcome the unprecedented challenges faced in recent weeks. Last month, the 10-day heat- wave across the Mediterra- nean brought a sharp spike in temperatures for an unusually prolonged number of days. The World Meteorological Organ- isation confirmed last July as the hottest month in history. This sudden increase in tem- peratures took its toll on Mal- ta's electricity grid and several neighbouring countries, in- cluding Italy, as the weakest points of underground cable networks failed, causing supply disruptions. Climate experts are warning that these extreme weather conditions will become more frequent. This is one of the rea- sons why last year we launched a major consolidation of Malta's electricity network. Through this €90 million up- grade, we already introduced significant improvements. The difficulties of the last few weeks highlighted the need to accelerate and increase this investment. Enemalta is deter- mined to augment the flexibil- ity and resilience of our infra- structure as soon as possible and to increase resources to prioritise the hardest-hit areas during last month's heatwave. We also welcome the added allocation of €70 million EU funds for the energy sector. The electricity distribution system is a complex network, with kilometres of under- ground cables transmitting electricity from our sources, including the Delimara Pow- er Station, the Malta-Italy In- terconnector and renewables, to 27 distribution centres and 1,625 substations across Mal- ta and Gozo, before reaching more than 330,000 households and businesses through a net- work of low voltage cables and aerial lines. Enemalta upgraded different parts of this network in the last decade, including 16 distribu- tion centres. Through the €90 million plan launched last year, we completed several upgrades, including 66 new substations and the extension of three dis- tribution centres in Tarxien, Marsaskala and Mrieħel, dou- bling their capacity. We also intensified our programme to automate substations, enabling our engineers to remotely con- trol these network nodes from our Network Control Centre in Marsa, for a quicker response to network difficulties. These upgrades have already boosted the flexibility and sta- bility of different parts of our network. The new infrastruc- ture helped our engineers and technicians to reduce the du- ration of most of the supply disruptions in recent weeks, as they provided the required alternative infrastructure to re- connect our customers to the network before lengthy repairs are completed. Unfortunately, where multiple faults affected the same area, this was not pos- sible. This is where we need to work even harder. We will continue developing more alternative connections to keep reducing the risks of long supply disruptions to our customers. Our network rein- forcement plan extends across all levels of the network, from the development of four new distribution centres in Naxxar, Siggiewi, Rabat and the Three Cities, to many new substa- tions and kilometres of new 11-kilovolt and low voltage ca- ble connections. Demand for electricity is in- creasing at a rapid rate. The 82-megawatt rise in our peak load since last summer was un- precedented. Demand will keep increasing in coming years, as Malta rolls out its electrifica- tion and decarbonisation plans in several sectors. Beyond our investment in the electricity grid, Enemalta is re- assured by the government's commitment to the continued development of our genera- tion mix. Malta has already made great strides with the de- commissioning of its oil-fired power stations and the devel- opment of its first intercon- nection with mainland Europe. The share of renewables in our energy mix has also increased exponentially. Enemalta is working with the government for the next step in this direc- tion, as it paves the way for new investments in large-scale off- shore renewables, overcoming the geographical limitations of our islands' limited space for land-based wind and solar farms. Interconnect Malta's ongoing preparations for the second in- terconnector and Malta's first large-scale battery storage sys- tems will continue helping En- emalta meet future electricity demand, while preparing our network for more grid-con- nected renewables. Enemalta is also consolidat- ing its human and technical re- sources to implement this mul- ti-million capital investment in its infrastructure efficiently, and to use these improvements to deliver a better service to our customers. We are also collab- orating with other entities, to pool resources and continue accelerating the implementa- tion of our network reinforce- ment plans. Through the commitment of our dedicated team, we will continue improving the quality of our services to all our cus- tomers. It's a long road ahead of us, but we are determined to continue supporting Malta's drive for a more sustainable fu- ture. 6 OPINION Jonathan Cardona is Chief Executive Officer, Enemalta plc Jonathan Cardona Boosting our efforts for a better service OPINION maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 AUGUST 2023