Last updated 12pm on Monday with PN statement

Enemalta has given a more detailed explanation after a nationwide power outage on Sunday evening.

It said the Malta-Sicily interconnector was switched off on Sunday morning for maintenance works on the switchgear at the Magħtab terminal station. The switchgear works were essential to mitigate a fault that had developed during the past days.

During testing of the switchgear at Magħtab, a number of distribution feeders tripped at 6.08pm. Subsequently, a number of machines at Delimara tripped.

After the situation was stabilised, the tripped distribution feeders were switched back on, and full supply was restored by 7.26pm.

Enemalta said interconnector works will be completed on Monday. During this period, supply will be sourced from Delimara Power Station, which has sufficient generating capacity to meet demand, Enemalta said.  

The outage recalled long, repeated power cuts in many localities this time last year during a heatwave. But those outages were blamed on overheated underground cables and Enemalta has since said it replaced 70km of underground cables to avoid a repetition.  

PN - Enemalta failing in basic maintenance

In a reaction to the power cuts, the Nationalist Party said on Monday that Enemalta was failing even in basic, planned, maintenance work.  

Furthermore, an attempt had been made, yet again, to pin the fault for the outage on the interconnector, when it had nothing to do.

Under the PN, Enemalta would have clear protocols, including a business continuity plan that would include an assessment of critical points when maintenance was carried out.

It was clear, the PN said, that Enemalta's problems went beyond distribution and generation and also included maintenance.

The statement was signed by shadow minister Ryan Callus.