Pass importanti ieħor għall-proġett tat-tieni interconnector bejn Malta u Sqallija (IC2)
- Tiġi fi tmiemha l-manifattura tiegħu u jitlesta b’suċċess l-ittestjar tiegħu fil-fabbrika ta’ Charlston
Punti Ewlenin:
– Tlestiet il-manifattura tal-cable ta’ taħt il-baħar twil mija u tliet (103) kilometri fil-faċilità ta’ Nexans f’Charleston, l-Istati Uniti.
– Tlesta b’suċċess programm estensiv ta’ testijiet fil-fabbrika biex tiġi żgurata l-integrità operattiva tal-cable.
– Il-cable tpoġġa b’mod sigur fuq carousel apposta u issa jinsab lest biex jitgħabba fuq il-bastiment sabiex imbagħad jitqiegħed taħt il-baħar aktar tard din is-sena.
Il-proġett tat-tieni konnessjoni tal-elettriku bejn Malta u Sqallija (IC2) laħaq tragward ieħor bit-tlestija tal-manifattura u l-ittestjar tal-cable ta’ taħt il-baħar.
Il-manifattura tal-cable ta’ vultaġġ għoli tlestiet fil-faċilità ta’ Nexans f’Charleston, fl-Istati Uniti, wara proċess estensiv ta’ produzzjoni li kien mifrux fuq sena sħiħa.
Il-Ministru għall-Enerġija, l-Ambjent u r-Riġenerazzjoni tal-Port il-Kbir, Dr Miriam Dalli, qalet:
“Dan huwa pass sinifikanti fit-twettiq tal-proġett tat-tieni interconnector bejn Malta u Sqallija. It-tlestija b’suċċess tal-manifattura u l-ittestjar tal-cable ta’ taħt il-baħar, flimkien mat-tlestija tal-preparamenti meħtieġa sabiex ikun jista’ jitpoġġa, teħodna pass ieħor lejn il-fażi tal-installazzjoni. IC2 huwa investiment strateġiku li se jsaħħaħ il-konnessjoni tal-elettriku ta’ Malta man-netwerk Ewropew, iżid ir-reżiljenza tas-sistema, jiffaċilita aktar integrazzjoni tal-enerġija rinnovabbli u jikkontribwixxi għall-għanijiet fit-tul tal-pajjiż fit-tranżizzjoni tiegħu lejn id-dekarbonizzazzjoni,” qalet il-Ministru Dr Miriam Dalli.
Il-proċess tal-manifattura kien jinvolvi diversi stadji speċjalizzati. Dan beda bil-produzzjoni tal-cables tal-fibre optic fin-Norveġja u l-manifattura tal-partijiet tar-ramfil-forma u d-daqs meħtieġ. Wara li tlestew il-partijiet tal-insulazzjoni u s-saffi protettivi, it-tliet fażijiet tal-cable ngħaqdu flimkien biex jiffurmaw il-cable sħiħ. Sussegwentement sar il-proċess tal-azzar, li jagħti lill-cable s-saħħa strutturali u l-protezzjoni mekkanika meħtieġa għall-installazzjoni taħt il-baħar u għall-operat tiegħu.
Il-cable ġie mmanifatturat f’sezzjonijiet ta’ madwar għaxar kilometri l-waħda, li ġġantu fil-fabbrika biex jiffurmaw żewġ tulijiet prinċipali. Waħda minn dawn tinkludi wkoll il-cable ta’ riżerva li se jinżamm Malta biex ikun jista’ jintuża f’każ ta’ emerġenza jew għal xogħlijiet ta’ tiswija fil-futur.
Tul il-proċess kollu, u b’mod partikolari fi tmiemu, il-cable għadda minn sensiela rigoruża ta’ testijiet sabiex jiġu vverifikati l-ogħla standards ta’ kwalità, prestazzjoni u affidabbiltà. Wara li tlestew dawn il-proċeduri, il-cable tqiegħed b’attenzjoni fuq carousel apposta, biex ikun jista’ jiġi trasportat b’mod sigur meta jitgħabba fuq il-bastiment aktar tard din is-sena.
Fil-fażi li jmiss issa l-cable mistenni li jitgħabba fuq in-Nexans Electra, il-bastiment il-ġdid li permezz tiegħu se jitqiegħed taħt il-baħar. It-tnedija ta’ dan il-bastiment avvanzat tirrappreżenta żvilupp ieħor importanti għat-tieni interconnector u se tippermetti li l-installazzjoni ssir b’mod effiċjenti u preċiż aktar tard din is-sena.
Dan il-progress kien possibbli wkoll grazzi għat-tlestija b’suċċess tax-xogħlijiet ta’ tindif u preparazzjoni tar-rotta marittima, li ntemmu l-ġimgħa li għaddiet. B’hekk li l-kuritur fejn se jiġi installat il-cable huwa ħieles minn kull ostaklu u periklu.
“Kburin li qed naħdmu ma’ msieħba internazzjonali ewlenija biex inwasslu infrastruttura li ssaħħaħ is-sigurtà tal-elettriku ta’ Malta. It-tlestija tal-manifattura u l-ittestjar estensiv tal-cable ta’ taħt il-baħar twil mija u tliet (103) kilometri fil-faċilità ta’ Nexans f’Charleston tirrappreżenta kisba teknika u loġistika importanti fit-twettiq tal-proġett. It-tlestija tax-xogħol preparatorju marbut mar-rotta marittima u t-tnedija tan-Nexans Electra jagħtuna l-kunfidenza biex nimxu għall-fażi li jmiss, jiġifieri t-tqegħid tiegħu taħt il-baħar aktar tard din is-sena. Dawn il-passi jirriflettu l-livell għoli ta’ koordinazzjoni u kompetenza fost l-imsieħba kollha tal-proġett hekk kif qed noqorbu iktar sabiex inlestu din l-infrastruttura strateġika tant importanti għall-pajjiż,” qal il-Maniġer tat-Taqsima tad-Disinn u l-Awtomatizzazzjoni ta’ InterConnect Malta, Dott. Inġ. Joseph Vassallo.
Il-proġett ġie rikonoxxut bħala “Operazzjoni ta’ Importanza Strateġika” fil-Programm 2021–2027. L-ammont tal-finanzjament Ewropew allokat hu ta’ €261 miljun.
Major milestone achieved for the second interconnector (IC2) as manufacturing and testing of the 103km subsea cable is now ready
Key Highlights:
- Manufacturing of 103km subsea cable completed at Nexans’ Charleston facility, USA
- Comprehensive factory testing successfully completed to ensure operational integrity
- Cable securely spooled onto carousel, ready for loading onto cable laying vessel
- Cable laying scheduled to commence later this year
A significant milestone in the development of the Malta-Sicily Interconnector 2 (IC2) was achieved with the successful manufacturing, testing, and readiness for installationof the 103km subsea cable.
Manufacturing of the high-voltage subsea cable has been completed at Nexans’ facility in Charleston, USA, following an extensive production process carried out over oneyear.
“This achievement marks a major step forward in the delivery of the IC2. The successful manufacturing and testing of the subsea cable, together with the completion of preparatory offshore works, is another important step that helps us advance to the installation phase. The IC2 project is a strategic investment aimed at enhancing Malta’s electricity interconnection with mainland Europe, increasing resilience, supporting the integration of renewable energy, and contributing to the country’s long-term energy transition goals,” Energy Minister Dr Miriam Dalli stated.
The manufacturing process included several specialised stages, beginning with the production of the fibre optic cables in Norway and the drawing of the copper conductorsto the required shape and size. After the insulation and sheath extrusion processes, the three cable phases were then assembled together with the fibre optic cables and fillers to form the complete subsea cable. This was followed by the armouring process, which provides the cable with the structural integrity and mechanical protection required for subsea installation and long-term operation.
The cable was produced in sections of approximately 10km each, which were subsequently jointed within the factory to form two main cable lengths. One of these lengths also includes the spare cable, which will be stored in Malta for future contingency and repair purposes. Through the whole process, including at the end, the cable has undergone rigorous testing to ensure the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance. Following completion, the cable has been carefully spooled onto a dedicated carousel, ensuring secure handling and readiness for transfer onto the cable laying vessel later this year.
The project has now entered its next critical phase, with the cable awaiting load-out onto the newly launched cable-laying vessel Nexans Electra. The commissioning of thisstate-of-the-art vessel marks another key development for the IC2 project, enabling efficient and precise installation of the subsea cable later this year.
This milestone has also been made possible through the successful completion of the marine route clearance campaign, finalised last week. The clearance works ensure thatthe subsea installation corridor is free of obstructions, enabling safe and streamlined cable laying operations.
Interconnect Malta Divisional Manager (Design and Automation), Dr. Ing. Joseph Vassallo stated that: “We are proud to collaborate with leading international partners todeliver infrastructure that strengthens Malta’s energy security. The completion of manufacturing and successful comprehensive testing of the 103km subsea cable at Nexans’ Charleston facility, represent a major technical and logistical achievement for the IC2 project. The completion of the marine route clearance campaign and the launch of the state-of-the-art cable-laying vessel, Nexans Electra, provide a stepping stone to proceed confidently with the installation phase later this year. These milestones reflectthe high level of coordination and expertise across all project partners as we continue delivering critical infrastructure that strengthens Malta’s energy security and long-term sustainability.”
This €300 million investment has been approved for ERDF funding under the priority “Promoting a clean and just energy transition” and contributes directly to smart andstable energy systems. The project has been recognised as an “Operation of Strategic Importance” in the 2021–2027 Programme, with €261 million allocated in European funding.