Malta greenlights second interconnector to Italy

The second Malta to Italy interconnector has reached a major milestone with the approval of the development permit by the Maltese Planning Authority.

The IC2 interconnector will consist of a new ~118-kilometer-long 225 MW HVAC electrical cable interconnection through a submarine cable operating at 220 kV between Maghtab in Malta and Ragusa in Sicily to be laid in parallel to the existing HVAC cable link which was commissioned in 2015.

This second Malta-Sicily cable link is part of the Maltese Government’s future energy strategy for meeting the 2030 climate and energy targets and the longer-term decarbonization objectives. The start of operations is planned for the second quarter of 2026.

“The development permits for the second Malta-Italy electricity interconnector are an important accomplishment, concluding two years of work on the design of this project,” said Joseph Vassallo, Divisional Manager, Interconnect Malta.

“The permit specifies the conditions for the required works for the laying of the cable from the Maghtab terminal station to the shore at Ghallis, for the transitional connection through horizontal directional drilling, and laying of the submarine cable up to the medial line, halfway between Malta and Sicily.”

As the project has been granted the development permit from the Maltese side, project developer InterConnect Malta stated it was now looking forward to replicating this success and concluding the permitting processes for the Italian portion.

According to Miriam Dalli, Malta’s Minister for the Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour, the required calls for offers are also being issued so that works can start as soon as possible and discussions are underway for the required permits from Italy.

“Soon after the Environment and Resources Authority confirmed the environmental authorizations related to the second interconnector, the Planning Authority’s approval of this project is an important step forward for the commencement of works on land and at sea in Malta,” said Dalli. “We want to complete this project to meet future electricity demand while facilitating increased deployment of renewables in the Maltese Islands.”