10 week extension for those interested in procuring energy from North Africa
Pre-market consultation now closes on July 31
The deadline for those interested in submitting their proposal for the procurement of renewable energy from North Africa has been extended by 10 weeks.
On March 27, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli had told a press conference that Malta will be exploring renewable energy projects in North Africa to help supply 25 per cent of its electricity demand.
Dalli had said a pre-market consultation was issued with the aim of "starting to explore the possibility and viability" of renewable energy production projects in North Africa.
On Friday, Interconnect Malta said the deadline had been extended "following substantial market interest". Those interested have until July 31 to express their interest here.
"Following the recent launch of the PMC for the large-scale importation of renewable energy from North Africa via a dedicated submarine cable, ICM has recorded significant interest from international developers, investors, and technology providers," it said in a statement.
"Following a request from prospective bidders, to accommodate this strong market response and ensure that all interested parties have sufficient time to prepare comprehensive, high-quality submissions, ICM is officially announcing a 10-week extension of the submission deadline."
ICM said the extension is meant to allow proponents to further refine the technical and financial aspects of their proposals.
The government is seeking solutions that can provide a baseload energy profile, potentially utilising a balanced mix of solar and wind generation alongside ancillary storage technologies.