According to new sources, Malta and Sicily have signed a letter of intent that will allow for progress to be made regarding the construction of a gas pipeline. At the signing ceremony, Malta’s Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, reportedly stated that the pipeline could be completed in seven years at a cost of 320 million euros.
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The 159 km 22 in. dia. pipeline will stretch from Sicily to Malta, with approximately 125 km being underwater. It will run between Gela (Sicily) to Delimara (Malta), with an expected capacity of 2 billion m3/y.
Muscat noted that this is a significant milestone that would help develop the country's infrastructure, and that “this letter will draft the way forward for this project.”
According to Times of Malta, the gas pipeline project was approved by the European Commission as a project of common interest, which means that member states have to ensure swifter and more efficient processing in planning applications.