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Power cuts rack up 727 hours in 2010 A total of 727 hours – a quarter of the last four months – were spent in ‘darkness’ since January 2010 due to power shortages and cuts, a parliamentary question revealed this week.A mix of cuts from blackouts, power trips, faults and works on electricity cables resulted in one of the most disconcerting years so far for Enemalta’s energy generation. The most affected areas were Mellieha and Hal Far with 51 hours and 46 hours respectively of energy cuts. The area of Swieqi, St Julian’s and Sliema altogether endured 40 hours of power cuts, while Zabbar was affected in a total of 33 hours. The national energy corporation, Enemalta, will see 2010 as one of its most challenging years: it has been faced with an investigation into the procurement of its 144MW power station extension, and several blackouts which businesses claim have cost them millions. The government is actively considering the installation of temporary generators to ensure a stable energy supply for the island, after the nationwide interruption of electricity supply on Good Friday. Concern is also growing over the tight energy deadlines which could force Enemalta to ration electricity if the cable connecting Malta with Sicily is not completed some time between 2012 and 2015 – when the 20,000 hour limit for Marsa power station set by EU directives expires. Although the finance ministry claims that Enemalta has always considered this option, it was not mentioned in Malta’s draft energy policy, nor was it contemplated in the original tender awarded to Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC) for the extension of the Delimara Power Station. Sources close to Enemalta Corporation believe this temporary solution as quite complex, given the very restricted floor space in Delimara due to the fact that the new extension project is going to take up a sizeable part of the remaining land, upon which civil works have to be undertaken without further delay. It is also doubtful whether the government can finance this extra expense, running into millions of euros, through a loan from the European Investment Bank, as it does not form part of the original scope of the awarded contract. Any comments? |
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