24 October 2013

Sicily-Malta gas pipeline included in EU projects funding list

Times of Malta 14/10/2013: The European Union has included the proposed gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily in a list of 250 energy projects which may qualify from a total of €5.85 billion in funding.

The project description says that this would be a 150 km pipeline from Gela in Sicily to an offshore Floating Storage and Regasification Unit unit some 12 miles off Malta, and the Delimara power station.

The European Commission said a modern infrastructure with adequate interconnectors and reliable networks is crucial for an integrated energy market where consumers get the best value for their money.

These "projects of common interest" (PCI) will benefit from accelerated licensing procedures and improved regulatory conditions and may have access to financial support from the Connecting Europe Facility, under which a €5.85 billion budget has been allocated to trans-European energy infrastructure for the period 2014-20.

This will help them get implemented faster and make them more attractive to investors. Once completed, the projects will help Member States to integrate their...read on.