Nexans Completes Subsea Cable Manufacturing for Malta-Sicily Interconnector

Electrical solutions provider Nexans has completed the manufacturing and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of the high-voltage subsea cable intended for the second Malta-Sicily interconnector (IC2). This milestone signifies the cable's readiness for load-out and subsequent installation, marking a significant step towards bolstering Malta's energy security.

The project involves the design, manufacturing, and delivery of approximately 100 kilometers of subsea cable, along with 4 kilometers of spare cable. This component is part of a larger 225 MW HVAC interconnection that will link Malta and Sicily, Italy.

Factory testing was concluded just over 13 months after the contract signing, adhering to the project's execution schedule. The completion of the cable ensures that the second interconnector is now prepared for installation, paving the way for increased interconnection capacity for Malta's electricity system.

This second link follows Nexans' delivery of the first Malta-Sicily interconnector (IC1) in 2015, which ended Malta's electrical isolation and provided access to a more secure and diversified electricity source. The new cable will be installed using deep burial techniques, including Nexans' Capjet system for enhanced protection.

The project, co-funded by the European Union, is expected to significantly increase the available interconnection capacity between Malta and Italy upon its final commissioning.