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Delimara extension to ensure electrical capacity for years to come
The extension currently under construction at the Delimara power station is to ensure enough electrical capacity to sustain Malta’s demand for electricity into the future.
11 March 2011, 12:00am
Rachel Zammit Cutajar
Rachel Zammit Cutajar
1 min read
Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment Tonio Fenech said at a visit to Delimara power station today that Malta’s demand for electricity has doubled since 1990 where 230 megawatts were consumed at peak times of the year, to 400 megawatts being consumed today.
Demand for electricity is on the rise as technology advances and more processes rely on electricity thus there is an inherent need to increase the country’s capacity to produce power, he said.
The €165 million investment in the extension to the power plant will ensure more efficient generation of electricity. The new extension will operate at 47% efficiency as opposed to the current machines that operate at 35-37% efficiency and the power station in Marsa that operates at 25% efficiency.
Fenech explained that the new extension will allow for maximum efficiency even when demand for power is low the eight machines can be switched off two at a time to ensure they are kept operating at maximum efficiency.
“With oil prices at $110 a barrel it is important for Malta make the most efficient use of every drop of oil and the new turbines will generate more electricity per barrel of oil as well as generating electricity from exhaust.”
The new plant is to be completed by May 2012, though a limited part will be able to start generating electricity by November or December of this year.
A contract has also been signed for an interconnector to link Malta to Sicily’s power supply and will be operative by the middle of 2013. “In the meantime works are continuing at the Marsa power station to improve emission rates and make the process more efficient.”
The Finance Minister was accompanied by Enemalta chairman William Spiteri Bailey and CEO Karl Camilleri.
Rachel Zammit Cutajar graduated in economics from the University of Malta...
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For SOME years to come, I would have thought.
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Today oil price has dropped below $100 a barrel.
Why are we going to use Heavy Fuel Oil which is the most polluting when we could use cheaper and very much less polluting gas? Is this to get more commissions apart from the €4,000,000 commission which we have been forced to pay?
Re ensuring capacity for years to come that was what we were told when the first Dellimara power station was going to be build.
Also if they are going to be sufficient for years to come why are we going to the trouble of having the inter-connector which will cost us at least another €400 million?
