The new District Office of the Enemalta Corporation in Xewkija, Gozo, has been inaugurated by the Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment, Tonio Fenech, in the presence of the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono and the chairman of Enemalta Corporation, Ing. Alex Tranter.

During the inauguration, Minister Fenech explained that this site will also eventually serve as the new site for the Center for 33kV Distribution currently being built.

This will provide the majority of needs for Gozo. Qala will also be kept on the network and this will ensure that the capacity will be strengthened substantially. Tonio Fenech added that security and an adequate supply of energy in Gozo is essential to this island to meet its targets for economic growth and objectives for eco-Gozo.

The work of construction is expected to be completed this year. Enemalta issued a tender for the supply and installation of equipment required in three distrubution centres, including Xewkija, which is being evaluated at present. This will mean a total investment of €5.7 million. The centre of distribution will have a computerised system that allows remote monitoring and control of equipment operation, which is integrated in with the Enemalta system (known as SCADA), which is operated on a 24 hour basis from the Head Office of Enemalta.

The electricity network is currently based in the Gozo Centre of Distribution in Qala, on the east of the island and thus, this investment will improve the capacity of transmission and distribution to the island.

This is one of a series of major projects Enemalta Corporation, like the important investment of the Power Station Extension at Delimara.

Among these are:

· Interconnectors (€ 153M): which will bring to Malta the European energy grid.

· New 132 kV Cables (€ 5.8m): Installation of two new 132kv cables, 8km long, in an underground tunnel between the Power Station and Distribution Center in Marsa Industrial Estate.

· Center of Distribution of Kappara (DC) (€ 20m): Recently issued tender for a new DC in Kappara, which is currently being built with underground tunnels and it expected to be completed next year. This will be a focal point for the distribution of energy in the north of Malta and to combine to the interconnector with the European grid.