Nexans to deliver second Malta-Italy interconnector, ten years after the first one

Nexans has landed a deal with Interconnect Malta (ICM) to supply the second Malta-Sicily interconnector, a new 225 MW high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) link that will enhance Malta’s power system and ensure a reliable energy supply. The contract will see Nexans manufacturing high-voltage subsea cables at its plant in Charleston, U.S.

The IC2 interconnector will feature a new 122-kilometer 225 MW HVAC electrical cable connection between the Terna substation in Ragusa, Sicily, and the Enemalta terminal station in Maghtab, running parallel to the existing HVAC cable link also provided by Nexans in 2015. This move is set to fortify the energy connection between Malta and Sicily, ensuring a stable electricity supply in the long term.

Pascal Radue, EVP of Nexans’ Power Transmission Business Group, expressed pride in contributing to Malta’s energy infrastructure. This collaboration with Interconnect Malta not only strengthens the energy ties between Malta and Sicily but also supports the country’s shift towards a climate-friendly economy and encourages more investments in renewable energy.

The overall interconnector cable system will consist of a land cable in Sicily (about 21 kilometers long), a three-core submarine cable (around 99 kilometers long), and a 2-kilometer land cable in Malta. The IC2 project received its final approval in January after obtaining the necessary permit from the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE).

This second cable link between Malta and Sicily aligns with the Maltese Government’s energy strategy to meet the 2030 climate and energy goals and achieve long-term decarbonization objectives. Co-funded by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund 2021-2027, the project is scheduled for completion and commissioning in 2026.