Interconnector approved - Malta to pay €600,000 compensation

Updated 3.45 p.m. The Italian Ministry of Economic Affairs has given the final go-ahead for the electricity interconnector between Sicily and Malta. A permit is to be issued within 20 days. Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said on Facebook that this "is excellent news for Malta and Gozo"'. Yesterday, the Ragusa Council dropped its objections to the project but requested €600,000 from Malta in compensation for the environmental impact of the project.  Malta agreed to pay the requested sum, Enemalta said. The 200MW cable will start from Marina di Ragusa. The council had previously objected on environmental grounds, but the Maltese government had dismissed the objections, saying the cable would be totally under the sea or under ground except for a small structure near a water treatment plant in Marina di Ragusa. The Italian government had backed the project. The interconnector is expected to be commissioned in March next year.