Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546363
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 AUGUST 2026 NEWS moneybase.com/cashback Terms and conditions apply. Payment services are brought to you by Moneybase Limited (C87193), which is licensed by the MFSA to operate as a Financial Institution in accordance with the Financial Institutions Act (Cap. 376). Calamatta Cuschieri Investment Services Ltd (C13729) is licensed by the MFSA to carry out investment services business in terms of the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370). The companies are subsidiaries of Calamatta Cuschieri Moneybase plc and have their registered office at Level 0, Ewropa Business Centre, Dun Karm Street, Birkirkara BKR 9034, Malta. Moneybase is a program Manager with Mastercard, your Moneybase card is provided by Moorwand Ltd (FCA Reference No 900709), a Principal member of Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Hot, frustrated and angry: Gozo blackout GOZITAN residents, businesses and tourists were left frustrated and angry over the blackout that hit the island over the weekend in the midst of a heatwave. Residents and catering es- tablishments spoke of grocer- ies they had to discard, while self-catering accommodation establishments and small bou- tique hotels that have no gen- erator were left counting their losses. Almost all of Gozo went pitch black on Friday at around 8pm when two of three high voltage cables suffered major faults. The situation was made worse with the failure of one of two distri- bution centres on the island. But as Enemalta scrambled additional technical teams to Gozo, it was only at around 1am on Saturday that the first un- derground fault was identified in Xewkija. By Saturday 6am, the second fault was located on Comino. Works at Xewkija started immediately, while those on Comino had to wait until heavy machinery was transported by barge to the island. Enemalta mobilised generators to Gozo in a bid to alleviate the disruptions but the company was constrained to rationalise electricity distribution. By Saturday night several lo- calities were still without power or experiencing periodic outag- es or unstable electricity supply. The massive outage is the sec- ond such major incident this summer after the widespread electricity cuts experienced in July at the height of a prolonged heatwave. Ad hoc compensation promised to consumers who spent hours without electricity in July has still not been paid. The latest incident is expected to increase political pressure on Energy Minister Miriam Dalli. The Opposition had tabled a motion of no confidence in the minister seeking her removal or resignation. The motion has not yet been debated. KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt The massive outage is the second such major incident this summer after the widespread electricity cuts experienced in July at the height of a prolonged heatwave