Il-Viċi President Eżekuttiv tal-UE Raffaele Fitto jżur ix-xogħlijiet IC2 iffinanzjati mill-UE
Tlestew 50% tax-xogħlijiet tat-trinek fl-Italja
Il-Viċi President Eżekuttiv tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea għall-Koeżjoni u r-Riformi, Raffaele Fitto, żar ix-xogħlijiet tat-tieni interconnector li huma ffinanzjati mill-UE waqt żjara uffiċjali fil-Magħtab flimkien mal-Ministru Miriam Dalli, il-Ministru Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, u l-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-ICM, Inġ. Ismail D’Amato.
Il-Viċi President Eżekuttiv Fitto ra l-progress tal-proġett u ddiskuta kif il-finanzjament mill-UE qed ikompli jappoġġja l‑objettivi infrastrutturali u ta’ reżiljenza ta’ Malta.
Matul iż‑żjara, id‑delegazzjoni ngħatat spjegazzjoni dettaljata fuq il-progress sostanzjali li nkiseb kemm lokalment kif ukoll fl-Italja. Fi Sqallija, minn rotta ta’ 20.7km, nofs ix-xogħlijiet tat-trinek issa tlestew. Dan jirrappreżenta pass importanti ’l quddiem għal din il-konnessjoni infrastrutturali essenzjali biex tissaħħaħ is‑sigurtà tal‑provvista tal-enerġija nazzjonali.
Fl-istess ħin, qed isir progress fuq l-elementi l-oħra tal-proġett. Barra minn hekk, f’Malta tlesta 66% tax-xogħlijiet tat‑trinek, bi proċessi riċenti fil-Magħtab li kienu jinkludu l-installazzjoni tat-terminazzjonijiet fit-terminal station, il-Magħtab.
Tul id-diskussjonijiet fuq il-post, il-Viċi President Eżekuttiv tal-UE u l-ministri Maltin tennew l-importanza strateġika ta’ dan l-investiment, kemm għall‑infrastruttura tal‑enerġija ta’ Malta kif ukoll għall-għanijiet usa’ tal‑koeżjoni Ewropea.
“It-tieni interconnector bejn Malta u Sqallija huwa proġett ewlieni u l-akbar investiment fil-politika ta’ koeżjoni ffinanzjat mill-UE f’Malta sal-lum. Il-proġett se jkun appoġġjat aktar permezz tar-reviżjoni ta’ nofs it-terminu tal-politika ta’ koeżjoni, u se jsaħħaħ is-sigurtà tal-enerġija filwaqt li jappoġġja użu akbar ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli u aktar elettrifikazzjoni,” qal il-Viċi President Eżekuttiv Fitto.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Indafa Pubblika, Miriam Dalli, ikkonfermat id-direzzjoni tal-Gvern billi qalet, “l-implimentazzjoni kontinwa tal-istrateġija tal-enerġija ta’ Malta qed tkompli tavvanza permezz ta’ sensiela ta’ proġetti ta’ impatt għoli. Qed jiġu indirizzati investimenti sinifikanti biex jissaħħaħ in-netwerk tad-distribuzzjoni, jissaħħaħ it-tkabbir tal-enerġija rinnovabbli, tespandi l-kapaċità tal-ħażna permezz tal-batteriji u jitħaffef l-iżvilupp tat-tieni interconnector. Dawn l-isforzi flimkien huma mfassla biex isaħħu s-sigurtà tal-enerġija filwaqt li jippermettu taħlita ta’ enerġija aktar diversifikata u sostenibbli,” saħqet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-Ministru għall-Fondi Ewropej u l-Implimentazzjoni tal-Programm Elettorali Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi qal, “IC2 għandu rwol kruċjali fit-tranżizzjoni ta’ Malta lejn sistema ta’ enerġija aktar nadifa u aktar reżiljenti. Dan l-investiment infrastrutturali kbir ta’ €300 miljun li huwa kofinanzjat mill-Unjoni Ewropea permezz tal-Fond Ewropew għall-Iżvilupp Reġjonali (ERDF), li jenfasizza impenn konġunt biex tissaħħaħ is-sostenibbiltà enerġetika ta’ Malta u r-reżiljenza ġenerali tagħha fil-qafas usa’ tal-enerġija Ewropea.”
It-Tieni Interconnector huwa element fundamentali tal-istrateġija tal-enerġija tal-Gvern, iddisinjat biex jirdoppja l-kapaċità tal-interkonnessjoni ta’ Malta u jsaħħaħ b’mod sostanzjali s-sigurtà u r-reżiljenza tal-provvista tal-elettriku tal-pajjiż.
EU Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto visits IC2 EU‑Funded works
50% of trenching works in Italy completed
EU Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto visited the ongoing IC2 EU‑funded works in Magħtab during an official site visit together with Minister Miriam Dalli, Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, and ICM Chief Executive Officer Ing. Ismail D’Amato.
Executive Vice‑President Fitto reviewed the progress of the project and discussed how EU cohesion funding continues to support Malta’s long‑term infrastructural and resilience objectives.
During the visit, the delegation was briefed on the substantial advances achieved both locally and in Italy, where, in Sicily from a 20.7km route, half of the trenching works have now been completed, marking an important step forward in the cross‑border infrastructure link essential for enhancing national energy security. Parallel progress is also being registered on the subsea element of the project. Moreover, in Malta, 66% of the trenching works are completed with recent works carried out at Maghtab involving the installation of terminations and plugs in the Maghtab terminal station.
Throughout the on‑site discussions, the EU Executive Vice‑President and Maltese Ministers emphasised the strategic relevance of the investment, both for Malta’s energy infrastructure and for broader EU cohesion objectives.
“The second electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily is a flagship project and the largest EU-funded cohesion policy investment in Malta to date. The project will be further supported through the mid-term review of cohesion policy, and it will strengthen energy security while supporting the uptake of renewables and increased electrification,” Executive Vice-President Fitto said.
Minister for Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli reaffirmed the government’s direction by stating: “The ongoing implementation of Malta’s energy strategy continues to advance through a series of high‑impact projects. Significant investments are being directed toward strengthening the distribution network, supporting the growth of renewable energy, expanding battery storage capabilities, and progressing on the development of the second interconnector. These combined efforts are designed to reinforce energy security while enabling a more diversified and sustainable energy mix.”
Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said “IC2 plays a crucial role in advancing Malta’s transition to a cleaner and more resilient energy system. This major infrastructure investment, valued at €300 million and supported by European funds, is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), underscoring a joint commitment to strengthening Malta’s energy sustainability and overall resilience within the wider European energy framework.”
The Second Interconnector serves as a cornerstone of the Government’s energy strategy, designed to double Malta’s interconnection capacity and significantly enhance security of supply.
