Electricity grid set for major upgrade under nine-year national plan

The government has launched a nine-year national plan aimed at strengthening and modernising Malta and Gozo’s electricity distribution system, with significant investment planned in infrastructure, new distribution centres and additional connections to improve the flexibility and resilience of the national grid.

The plan was announced on Thursday during a press conference addressed by Environment and Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and Enemalta executive chairman Ryan Fava.

The strategy includes the construction of 12 new distribution centres, a new 132kV electricity link between Malta and Gozo, and a series of projects specifically targeting Gozo. According to Enemalta, the plan is designed to prepare the electricity system for economic growth and rising energy demand in the coming years.

Speaking at the launch, Dalli said the plan formed part of a wider government vision focused on long-term planning and immediate implementation.

“This is not a plan on paper; it is a plan that is being implemented,” she said, referring to measures taken after the summer of 2023, when heatwaves caused widespread power cuts across the country. The National Audit Office found that the outages were partly a result of Enemalta’s failure to invest in its high voltage network over a 10-year span. 

“We accelerated the plan, increased investment and carried out more work in less time. Today we are seeing the results and preparing the country not just for today, but for the realities of five or ten years from now and beyond.”

Dalli stressed that the investments were being carried out while households and businesses continued to benefit from stable energy bills, in contrast to developments in many other countries.

Enemalta also used the occasion to unveil new corporate branding under the slogan 'Energy that moves you', which the company said reflects its role as a provider of an essential service and the importance of energy in daily life.

Fava said Enemalta had already made “significant steps” to improve the reliability of the electricity network through a phased reinforcement programme.

“These investments are crucial to strengthen the resilience of the network and ensure a more stable and efficient energy supply for families and businesses,” he said. “The nine-year plan will continue to reinforce the national distribution system and prepare it for future challenges.”

According to Enemalta, €90 million has been invested in strengthening the distribution system over the past two years, with an additional €40 million allocated to new distribution centres expected to be completed by mid-year.

The company said the works were already delivering tangible results. The first phase of the reinforcement programme saw the installation of 83 kilometres of new medium-voltage cables and upgrades to low-voltage networks, leading to a significant reduction in outage times. A second phase involved the laying of a further 63 kilometres of underground cables, aimed at boosting capacity and resilience in localities across Malta and Gozo.