Fenech dismisses Ragusa protestations against interconnector

Finance minister Tonio Fenech has downplayed concerns on protests by the Ragusa council in Sicily against the Malta-Sicily interconnector cable, saying the matter has already been addressed.

Fenech was reported by The Times saying he was confident that the final go-ahead for the grant of the permits from the Italian government would take place within weeks. The project, he said, enjoys the backing of both central and regional authorities that would overrule the Ragusa council's protestations.

The interconnector in Sicily is located in an underground site, Fenech said.

Malta's bid to have an interconnector with Sicily is facing resistance from Sicily's politicians and civil society, after the Ragusa council, led by mayor Nello Dipasquale voted to oppose the Italian ministry for economic development's brief to approve the multi-million project, which is expected to be co-financed by the European Union.

The Ragusa council's resolution found the backing of 'Movimento Territorio Ragusa', an environmental pressure group which is also led by the town's mayor, who is set to run for regional elections next month.

While it remains unknown whether the objection to the interconnector forms part of Dipasquale's political strategy in a bid to be elected to the region's giunta, the Ragusa council and the pressure group, are now in the process of  compiling a dossier to substantiate their opposition.

The dossier will be presented to the environment and economic development  ministries, during meetings which are scheduled in Rome in the coming days.

According to submissions made by Movimento Territorio Ragusa, the interconnector is expected to see the construction of an on-shore station at Marina di Ragusa, and will then be submerged at the mouth of the river Irminio, which borders with a natural reserve.

"The cable, supported by large on-shore technological structures in the area, and the environmental impact would be unacceptable and too dangerous," the pressure group said.

The group pointed out that existent studies show that the large horizontal tunnels would have to be bored under a pristine beach which is just a few metres away from a natural reserve, and would seriously compromise marine life in the area."

Activists from the movement have vowed to barricade the works if they start.