Watch: First Look At The Second Malta-Sicily Interconnector Set To Be Finalised In 2026
The second interconnector (IC2) project has gotten approval from Italy and is already underway, set to be completed in 2026, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli announced earlier today.
The project, spearheaded by Interconnect Malta (ICM) aims at strengthening Malta’s electrical connection with the European network and was given the greenlight by its Italian Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), in November 2024, and recently given its final approval by Italy’s Environmental Ministry.
Following the approval, the project will be completed sometime in 2026, after nearly four years of planning, research and aid from international partners, Dalli explained.
The initiative is a €300 million investment, with €165 million of which being covered by The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – more than half of the project’s total cost.
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Dalli particularly expressed her gratitude for her Italian counterpart Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Environment and Energy minister.
“These kinds of projects, like Offshore Energy, are essential so that as a country we accomplish our aim of greatly driving Malta’s decarbonisation efforts by 2050,” Dalli said at the conference.
“This will not only strengthen our security of supply, but will also enhance our connection with mainland Europe to enable more renewable energy.”
In addition to its predecessor which was launched in 2015, this new interconnector’s cables are said to span 122-kilometres with high-voltage alternating current electrical cable interconnection, two kilometres of which will be on land in Malta, and 21km in Sicily, with the remaining 99 kilometres being located underwater or embedded in the sea bed.
“This favourable outcome will allow us also to initiate works on the 21km stretch between Marina di Ragusa and Ragusa in Italy and in due course, in the channel between the two states,” Divisional Manager at ICM, Joseph Vassallo said.
“When you have this type of energy source, it’s good for when other factors, such as wind, varies. You have a constant renewable source of energy.”
Starting from the Enemalta Magħtab Terminal Station in Naxxar, the cables will travel through a meticulously planned route avoiding on-land architecture for minimal inconvenience as well as marine operations like trawling, rigs and marine agriculture, finally emerging from Marina Di Ragusa all the way to the city of Ragusa.
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