Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512734
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 DECEMBER 2023 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt A second interconnector is es- sential for meeting the forecast- ed increase in the island's elec- tricity demand, a case officer's report concludes, recommend- ing approval of the project. The second interconnector, linking the Maghtab Terminal Station in Malta to Ragusa, Sic- ily, is slated for approval in the first meeting of the Planning Board in 2024, set to be held on January 18. The case officer's report re- fers to energy studies, indicat- ing that towards the end of the next decade, Malta will find it "increasingly challenging" to meet its electricity demand in the absence of the second in- terconnector. An Environmental Impact As- sessment (EIA) for the project concluded that the second inter- connector is essential to ensure that Malta has enough energy to cater for its increased popu- lation, the electrification of its car fleet, and to sustain current levels of economic growth. In its absence, Malta will "face challenges" in meeting its elec- tricity demand during peak pe- riods, the EIA warned. The EIA states that the inter- connector will provide Malta with a reliable and stable sup- ply of energy, "reducing the risk of blackouts and ensuring the uninterrupted supply of electricity to households and businesses." The second interconnector will not only help meet in- creased demand but will al- so ramp up supply in cases of temporary damage to the ex- isting interconnector cable link or the interruption of the LNG supply to domestic power gen- eration plants. It is also con- sidered essential for increasing locally generated electricity from renewables by providing a buffer to counterbalance the intermittency of renewable en- ergy sources. The second interconnector will take a different path from the existing interconnector to avoid issues leading to the fail- ure of both cable connections at once in case of an accident. The proposed offshore route was selected because it is the shortest possible, does not in- terfere with any of the trawling zones in Maltese waters, and does not cross paths with the existing interconnector. The Environmental Impact Assessment has concluded that the impact of the project on climate change depends on whether the energy bought from Europe is renewable or derived from fossil fuels. De- spite contributing to lower emissions of locally produced greenhouse gases, the EIA warns that if electricity import- ed through the cable is derived from non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, the second interconnector would still have a negative impact on climate change. One major stumbling block for a reduction in overall greenhouse emissions is that Italy, the main country from which the electricity will be imported, "is still heavily reli- ant on fossil fuels for electricity generation." Enemalta statistics show that 86% of the energy import- ed from Italy in 2022 was de- rived from fossil fuels, which, in varying degrees, contribute to global warming. Moreover, while only 9% of the energy imported from the intercon- nector came from renewable energy sources, 12% came from coal-fired power stations. Second interconnector set to be approved in January MANAGEMENT consultant David Spiteri Gingell was per- plexed in front of the public ac- counts committee on Tuesday, wondering why has been asked to testify on his time as Enemalta chief – a time that precedes the events in the Electrogas audit re- port. The public accounts commit- tee is examining the Auditor General's report on the con- tracts awarded to Electrogas Ltd by state entity Enemalta years after Spiteri Gingell left his post at Enemalta. "I already testified in front of the PAC in 2010 and 2013, on the context of the actions and strategy decisions I took as chief executive… I still don't see why I'm here to answer questions I already answered twice to this committee on the same topic," he told the MPs on the committee. Spiteri Gingell was called to testify by the Labour MPs on the committee in an attempt to refish the BWSC saga. The saga concerns a contract with Danish company BWSC on a new power station built in the Gonzi administration, when a decision was taken to continue operating on heavy fuel oil. This decision was taken de- spite Enemalta's strategic re- port suggesting the country start shifting to gas. The strategic report was Spi- teri Gingell's making – his last move as CEO of Enemalta. 'The Titanic after it hit the iceberg' During the committee meet- ing, Spiteri Gingell described Enemalta as "the Titanic after it hit the iceberg". He said there were high- ly-skilled people on its payroll, and he had a good relationship with the General Workers' Union at the time. "However, there were a number of diffi- cult situations," he said. Spiteri Gingell said Enemal- ta had no strategy until Aus- tin Gatt became the minister responsible for the entity. He also said he held "no respect" towards Tonio Fenech, who was finance minister under the Gonzi administration. Indeed, Spiteri Gingell's clashes with the finance min- istry at the point sparked his resignation from Enemalta and MITA. When Spiteri Gingell testified in front of the public accounts committee in 2013, he said he plead to the finance ministry several times to enroll more personnel at Enemalta. How- ever, the call fell on deaf ears, prompting his resignation. "It was a waste of time… de- cisions which should be taken by the CEO were taken in Strait Street," he had told the com- mittee in 2013. 'Why am I here?': David Spiteri Gingell questions request for his testimony in parliament David Spiteri Gingell The second interconnector will link the Maghtab Terminal Station in Malta to Ragusa, Sicily