The project of the second interconnector, also known as IC2, has reached another milestone as the procurement process for the installation of two shunt reactors and a transformer has been concluded following an evaluation process of the offers received through a public call.
AG Installations were recommended for award of this contract, valued at €20.3 million. Through this procedure a shunt reactor will be installed at each side of the interconnector, namely at Ragusa in Sicily and Maghtab, Malta. The purpose of the shunt reactors is to reduce the reactive power generated by the subsea and onshore cable, thus improving the efficiency in transmitting the energy from one source to the other. The interconnector will be operating at 220kV, thus, in order to step down this voltage to the levels of the Maltese connection point, a 220kV/132kV autotransformer will be installed at Maghtab.
Interconnect Malta (ICM), the entity leading this project, has also published a fourth tender. This relates to the Supply and Installation of 220kV Switchgear, Fire Suppression System and Construction of Fire Walls at Ragusa and the Upgrade of Control System. The estimated value of this tender is €12 million.