Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538544
ELECTRICITY imported from the European grid through the Malta-Sicily interconnector made up 32.4% of Malta's power supply in 2024, according to fig- ures released by Enemalta. This represents a sharp in- crease in reliance on imported electricity, which accounted for 22.9% of supply in 2023 and 23.2% in 2022. The figures also show that on- ly 8% of imported electricity via the interconnector came from renewable sources—a marginal rise from 7.3% in 2023—while two-thirds (66.5%) was generat- ed from natural gas. The remainder came from coal (11.9%), nuclear (5%), petrole- um products (1.1%) and other sources, including non-specified fuels (7.4%). The increase in the share of imported electricity from the Malta-Sicily interconnector was driven by a combination of fac- tors, including rising tempera- tures, growing economic activi- ty, and planned maintenance at the Delimara 4 gas-fired power plant, which reduced local gen- eration capacity. "With local gas-fired genera- tion constrained by both con- tractual and technical limits, any excess demand had to be met through alternative sourc- es, notably the interconnector and renewable generation," an Enemalta spokesperson told MaltaToday. "This pattern has continued into 2025 due to sus- tained growth in demand." The figures refer to Malta's electricity supply mix, which includes both locally generated and imported power. In 2024, 60% of Malta's elec- tricity supply was locally pro- duced in power stations running on natural gas, down from 69.1% in 2023, while renewable energy contributed 7.3% and petroleum products just 0.3%. The interconnector helps to bridge the gap between local generation and rising consump- tion, but it remains largely de- pendent on fossil fuels. In fact, despite public focus on the EU's clean energy transition, coal still made up nearly 12% of the im- ported electricity mix in 2024, albeit down from 22.8% in 2023. Asked whether Enemalta can influence the sources of import- ed electricity, the company said it cannot. "Malta cannot influ- ence the energy mix supplied via the interconnector," an En- emalta spokesperson explained. "Renewable energy certificates in Europe are often sold sepa- rately from the actual electric- ity—mostly to large industrial buyers. This system follows EU-wide accounting rules and "doesn't necessarily reflect the real-time flow of clean energy across borders." Malta is in the process of de- veloping a second interconnec- tor to Sicily with production of the cable currently underway in Norway and the US. The second interconnector is a crucial cog in the country's plans to invest in offshore wind farms since it will enable the export of elec- tricity to stabilise the domestic grid on days when renewables are producing excess energy. A second interconnector also gives Malta greater security of supply in the eventuality that one of the subsea cables is dam- aged. 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 AUGUST 2025 NEWS JobsPlus Permit Number: 698/2025 The Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports is looking for a Chief Execu ve Officer (CEO). The applicant is expected to be analy cal, curious and ideally have a general interest in sports. The selected candidate will handle the nancial aspect of the Authority. The candidate shall be in possession of an MQF Level 6 in Management, Law, Finance, Business Management or a related degree (or higher). The applicant is also expected to have 8 years' experience in management. Interested applicants are invited to send their applica on via email. The applica on shall include a covering le er, a Curriculum Vitae and a recent police conduct (within one month). Applica ons will be accepted un l the 20th of August 2025 at noon. Applica ons including the abovemen oned documents are to be sent to the following address: careers.aims@aims.org.mt COURT NOTICE The Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals informs that the Civil Court, First Hall ordered the following sales by auction: Date Time Judicial Sale No Place Items 24 th September, 2025 10.00am 1/25 - KRZ Michael Debono Limited (C10002) vs Bhin K C Kamal (ID 0333886A) Number 447, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp, Santa Venera Vehicle of the make Toyota C-HR Hybrid with the registration number BHM 007. Further details can be obtained from the website: https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/JudicialSales The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card Gaetana Aquilina For the Registrar Civil Courts and Tribunals Malta witnessed growing reliance on interconnector for electricity JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The site in Ragusa, Sicily where the interconnector to Malta receives its electricity from 2023 2024 Natural Gas 58.22% 66.51% Renewables 7.28% 8.04% Coal 22.77% 11.88% Petroleum 3.76% 1.11% Nuclear 4.40% 5.03% Other 3.57% 7.43% 2023 2024 Natural Gas 69.09% 60.00% Renewables 7.48% 7.30% Petroleum 0.58% 0.26% Interconnector 22.85% 32.44% Electricity imported from interconnector Malta's energy supply mix Source: Enemalta "Renewable energ y certificates in Europe are often sold separately from the actual electricity —mostly to large industrial buyers."