Wednesday, April 1, 2009

working at heights




This impressive photo shows personnel inspecting the chimney flanges and strengthening the sheet metal cladding at Marsa Power Station, Photo - Ian Vella, with special thanks to Joseph Giuliano

Nationwide Smart Grid implementation launched.


4th February 2008 - The Maltese National Electricity and Water Utilities -- Enemalta Corporation and Water Services Corporation have selected IBM for a 70 million euro, five-year agreement to design and deliver a nationwide Smart Grid implementation. Working with IBM, Enemalta will transform key utility processes through the implementation of an integrated utility business solution.



The solution is designed to improve operational efficiency and customer service levels by introducing smart meters that allow clients to better manage consumption. Smart metering also enables restructuring of the billing process, improved customer relationship management and the introduction of e-services that further empower clients to serve their own customers.

The project is the first step in establishing an end-to-end electricity and water smart utility system. When complete, the multi-phased engagement is expected to completely transform the relationship between Maltese consumers and utilities suppliers, while enabling more efficient consumption of energy and water. IBM will replace all 250,000 analog electricity meters with new smart electronic devices. IBM will also integrate water meters and advanced IT applications, enabling remote monitoring, management, meter readings and meter suspensions.

'This agreement will not just transform Enemalta's metering operations but will help us introduce new back-office applications to provide an unprecedented customer relations service,'said Enemalta's CEO Ing. Karl Camilleri
"With the right infrastructure in place to distribute electricity on the national grid we are looking at ways to both optimize current operations, as well as open up potentially new untapped markets in the way we conduct our business operations."

Benefits include:
Actual use: estimated accounts will be eliminated and customers will pay only for what they actually use. Flexible tariffs: utility companies will be able to manage different prices to sustain new policies on energy consumption. Pre-payment: the solution allows customers to switch to a pre-pay service, similar to mobile phone pre-payment. Reduction of losses: commercial losses will be reduced and technical losses will be more easily identified through monitoring of electricity and water grids. Remote management of electricity supply: no local intervention to activate, reduce, increase or terminate supply, thereby reducing connection time. Energy efficiency: the system will enable sophisticated analysis of consumption patterns enabling a real-time view of energy use to identify opportunities for reduction.
Customer portal: customers will have an Internet window to their technical and commercial data, to track current consumption and choose the most appropriate agreements.
"The implementation of an advanced automated meter management system will permit the Corporation to further improve its water loss management initiatives," said WSC CEO Ing. Marc Muscat.

"This agreement results from a comprehensive process to select a Smart Grid system that provides clear benefits to the Maltese community," said Guido Bartels, General Manager Global Energy & Utilities Industry at IBM. "We see the Smart Grid as a critical enabler for economic growth on a global scale and it's inspiring to see Malta take such a strong leadership position." The agreement was signed prior to year end 2008. The system is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Celebrating 1,401 years of service with Enemalta


22 January 2008, Enemalta Chairman Ing. Alexander J. Tranter and Chief Executive Officer Ing. Karl Camilleri presented a commemorative gift and a length of service certificate to a number of ex-Enemalta employees who retired during 2008. A total of 49 persons retired who jointly rendered a total of 1,401 years of service, Ing. Tranter said. Most employees had well over 30 years of service.



Speaking during the presentation, Ing. Tranter stated that Enemalta needs to plan ahead to continue to meet our Country’s growing energy needs. The Corporation will in the next five years be closing Marsa’s Power Station and will be investing heavily in an interconnector with Sicily. The Corporation will also be embarking in an ambitious project to replace all electricity meters to ‘Smart’ meters, which have several advantages, including the ability to communicate and send data over the power lines with a central communications centre therefore eliminating the need for a meter reader to physically read the meter. This will mean that the Corporation will be able to send out updated ‘actual’ bills therefore eliminating the need for an estimated invoice. Enemalta Chairman also stated that the Corporation formed a joint venture with the Water Services Corporation to start providing an efficient billing system and processing technology.

Enemalta’s new Chief Executive Officer Ing. Karl Camilleri stated that most of the employees that retired during 2008 witnessed the Corporation’s transformation, highlighting the Commissioning of Delimara Power Station in 1992. Ing. Camilleri stated that Enemalta’s commitment to cleaner energy started in 1995 when Marsa’s power station stopped coal firing to produce electricity and continued in 2003 when Enemalta stopped importing leaded petrol but instead started selling LRP (lead replacement petrol). The CEO stated that it is his priority to see that Enemalta continues this transformation process and begins a transition towards being more customer-oriented and not just production-oriented.

Enemalta’s Chairman, CEO and Chief Human Resources Officer Mr. Anthony Bonello thanked employees for their service and wished the retiring employees good health and luck for the coming years.

Saħħa u Sigurta f’użu tal-elettriku fid-dar

Is-saħħa u sigurta f’użu tal-elettriku fid-dar jikkonsisti prinċipalment minn protezzjoni minn:

1) Xokk elettriku
2) Nirien li jistgħu jirriżultaw minn short jew kuntatt loose
3) Hruq minn appliances li jisħnu bl-elettriku

Biex nipproteġu minn xokk elettriku rridu noqgħodu attenti li partijiet live m’ humiex esposti. Għalhekk:

1) Dejjem itfi u aqla’ l-plug qabel tnaddaf xi apparat li jaħdem bl-elettriku.
2) Biddel wires qodma, wires maħruqa, maqrusa jew li jkunu maħlula.
3) Tiġbidx plug jew apparat mill-wire tiegħu għax il-wire jista’ jinqala’ mill-plug. Il wire gap li hemm ġol-plug mhux żejjed. Użah!
4) Plug b’żewg pins għandha tinbidel għal waħda bi tlett pins jew jintuża’ adaptor
5) Biddel plugs u sockets li jkunu mxaqqa, maħmuga, jew b’xi ħsara oħra.
6) Qatt ma għandek tgħawwar jew iddaħħal xi ħaġa tal-metal fit-toaster.
7) Itfi l-kutra ta’ l-elettriku qabel ma tidħol fis-sodda.
8) Meta tħoss xokk zgħir qis dan bħala twissija. Tmisx l-apparat li jkun tak ix-xokk qabel ma taqla’ l-plug u kun żgur li ħadd ma juża’ dan l-apparat qabel ma jissewa.
9) Sockets fuq barra għandhom ikunu water proof.
10) M’għġandeks tmiss sockets, switches jew apparat li jaħdem bl-elettriku b’idejk imxarba.
11) Kun żgur li tqabbad electrician kwalifikat għal kull tip ta’ xogħol ta’ l-elettriku fid-dar.
12) Għal min għandu t-tfal u hu preokkupat li dawn jistgħu jbabsu fis-sockets jeżistu child locks li jistgħu jintużaw apposta.
B’dawn il-preokkupazjonijiet nistgħu nevitaw xokk elettriku. Madanakollu huwa essenzjali li kull installazzjoni ġod-dar tkun protetta minn Earth Electrode u SALVAVITA. Is-salvavita xogħolha hu li taqta’ d-dawl f’każ li f’incident nieħdu xokk jew jirriżulta ħsara f’appliance elettriku. Din is-salvavita tkun wara l-Main Switch jew tripper fil-consumer unit ħdejn il-meter tad-dawl. Fil-każ ta’ flats fil-komun. Perjodikament is-salvavita għandha tiġi ittestjata billi tgħafas it-Test Button li hemm fuqha stess. Dan isir biex tara’ jekk is-salvavita taħdimx tajjeb jew le qabel ikun tard wisq. Jekk tittripja s-salvavita u allura jmurlek id-dawl. F’dan il-każ wieħed irid jiċċekkja s-salvavita u jerġgħa jixgħelha. F’każ li s-salvavita terġa’ tintefa’, allura jkun ifisser li fid-dar hemm xi ħaġa mhux taħdem tajjeb. Meta jiġri hekk, hu mportanti li l-persuna ma tippanikjax. L-ewwel ħaġa li wieħed għandu jagħmel f’dan il-każ hu li jaqla’ l-plugs kollha li hemm fid-dar u jitfi l-heaters ta’ l-ilma. Il-pass li jmiss ikun li terġa’ tinxtegħel is-salvavita. Jekk din ma terġax tintefa’, wieħed għandu bil-prekawzjoni kollha jibda’ jipplakkja l-appliances tad-dar waħda waħda. Hafna drabi jiġri li meta tipplakkja xi waħda mill-appliances terġa’ tintefa’ s-salvavita. B’hekk tkun ovvja li l-ħsara tkun f’dik l-appliance partikolari li tkun ipplakkjata l-aħħar qabel intfiet is-salvavita. F’każ li jkollok il-plugs kollha maqtugħha u s-salvavita tibqa’ tintefa, dan ikun ifisser li l-ħsara qegħda jew fil-wires tad-dar jew fl-istess salvavita. Hawn importanti li wieħed isejjaħ electrician kwalifikat biex isib eżattament fejn hi l-ħsara.

Biex tipproteġi minn nirien li jistgħu jirrizultaw minn short jew loose contact ħu hsieb li:

1) Tevita l-użu ta’ adaptors mal-plugs biex nqabdu aktar minn appliance waħda. Uża socket separat għall kull plug speċjalment għall-appliance b’konsum għoli.
2) Plugs bill-pins maħmuġin jistgħu jikkaġunaw li jisħon il-plug u għalhekk dawn għandhom jinbidlu. L-istess ħaġa għall- plugs li diġa juru ħruq mall-pins. Dan il-ħruq huwa indikazzjoni ta’ loose u hemm bżonn li l-plug jinbidel.
3) Tpoġġix ħwejjeg fuq electrical heater kemm minħabba li dawn jistgħu jieħdu n-nar kemm ukoll għax il-heater ma jkunx jista’ jiffunzjona sew.
4) Il-fuse fil-plug għandu jkun adekwat għall-appliance li jkun jitma. Hafna drabi l-plug li nixtru jkun fihom fuse ta’ 13 A li huwa tajjeb għall- dishwasher, washing machine, forn etc. Imma dan għandu jinbidel għal wieħed iżgħar jekk il-plug tintuża ma’ T.V, PC, mixer etc.
5) Tużax spray fuq power points jew switches.
6) Fl-aħħar ftakar li biex titfi appliance elettrika li ħadet in-nar uża biss CO² Fire Extinguisher jew powder type.

- Simon Fabri

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Identita ġdida għall-Korporazzjoni

Il-Korporazzjoni Enemalta ilha mwaqqfa 31 sena. Dawn l-aħħar ftit snin rajna lill-Korporazzjoni testendi u tkabbar is-sistema ta’ trażmissjoni ta’ l-elettriku kif ukoll sar żvilupp u tkabbir fl-impjant tal-faċilitajiet ta’ ġenerazzjoni. Fl-istess ħin, l-Enemalta qed tipprepara sabiex tilqa’ għall-iżvilupp ekonomiku mgħaġġel fil-pajjiż. Illum il-Korporazzjoni qed ukoll issir iżjed konxja ta’ l-ambjent.

Logo ġdid

Kif tistgħu tinnotaw f’din l-edizzjoni tal-magazin hawn diversi tibdiliet li mhux biss jirrifletti l-Eneinfo nnifsu iżda anka l-Enemalta. Qed nirreferi għall-fatt li l-Korporazzjoni biddlet il-logo uffiċjali tagħha. Inħass il-bżonn li l-Korporazzjoni tuża logo li jirrifletti iktar il-viżjoni li għandna għas-snin li ġejjin. Ħafna minnkom probabli diġa innotaw li l-kulur aħdar jirrifletti l-bżonn li nkunu iktar konxji ta’ l-ambjent ta’ madwarna. L-identita l-ġdida li qed nippromwovu tissimbolizza s-sempliċita fejn tneħħew il-ħafna kuluri li kien fih il-logo l-antik u minflok iffukajna fuq disinn li jissimbolizza l-użu ta’ l-enerġija fiż-żminijiet moderni, b’enfasi kbira fuq l-ambjent . Il-logo il-ġdid jirrifletti wkoll il-missjoni tal-Korporazzjoni li tilqa’ l-bżonnijiet għall-enerġija tal-konsumatur Malti, f’ambjent effiċjenti filwaqt li tħares l-ambjent. Il-Korporazzjoni tilgħab rwol sinjifikanti fl-iżvilupp ekonomiku tal-pajjiż filwaqt li tikkontribwixxi fit-tkabbir tas-setturi kummerċjali u industrijali.

Learning from welders



Charles Gauci
Technical instructor (welding)

In the present drive for better production and efficiency, industry is adapting to more and more automation. Where welding is involved it is no different, so some are asking whether welders have a place in projects anymore. Due to the lack of an understanding of the function of the, welder, the perception is weak and blurred.

The obligation of a welder to cover himself from head to toe in safety equipment while striking the welding rod creates a flashing arc which prevents anyone from following what he is actually doing.
In principle every welded joint has imperfection by nature, so the skill and ability of the welder is shown by his ability to limit those imperfections as much as possible. This ability is acquired by good eyesight, a steady hand, formal training, a lot of practice, and time factor, since a welder has to come to grips with the large number of variables that can affect the quality of the joint.

At this point we have to ask some questions to realise the need of a welder:

How can any equipment be built without knowing the requirements of welding?

How can the proper parameters be inputted into any equipment without the right experience

Who can notice the progress of any machine if one has no eye for faults in the joint as they are happening?

How can a welding procedure be certified without the presence of a welder since it depends on controlling the variables at play.

We have to remember that welding in some sort has been with us for centuries since the strength of a nation depended on the quantity and quality of the blades it could produce, the experience gathered reflects on the product as it all depends on the manual techniques of the welder.

When a welding exercise commences, the welder is attentive due to the complex process going on. When the welder starts the arc it reaches a temperature of about 4000 degrees Centigrade in a few seconds, and hence it melts the two parts of metal being joined together with the filler rod. It is important to make sure that the molten pool of metal which must have penetration and fusion through the whole thickness of the metal being joined, do not have any inclusions or impurities that may be created by the surrounding environment such as oxygen and hydrogen which are its worst enemies.

While critical joints have to pass several rigorous mechanical tests before they are accepted to take loads, some international bodies describe the welding process as an art.

In this environment welders occupy a role in the front line of manufacturing and repair. They are the most critical factor of a satisfactory product and so they carry a lot of responsibility to get the job right. Unfortunately the role of the welder is largely unappreciated by many companies to the detriment of the end product and the success in competition.

To achieve such standards welders must possess the right equipment, the right training and the support from their superiors, as welders usually have to perform their duties with good results, against all odds and in an unfavourable environment.

Mosta 132kV Distribution Centre – Part 2






Mosta 132kV Distribution Centre – Part 2

Ing. John Caruana
Development Section

In our first section on the new Mosta DC we covered the use of a DC together with the 132KV, 33KV and 11KV switchgear installed used in this new DC. In this second section we will cover the transformers, cables and control being used in Mosta DC




132/33/11kV Transformers

Two 90MVA 132/33kV and two 50MVA 132/11kV transformers were supplied by EFACEC, Portugal. Since these are large transformers and cannot be delivered in parts except for the ancillary equipment, specialised machinery was required to hoist these transformers in place.


Power cables

Having the 132/33/11kV switchgear and transformers installed the next stage is to connect the high voltage cable to these equipments. 132kV cables were installed and necessary jointing works carried out by Enemalta jointers with the guidance of specialised jointers from the manufacturing company. This proved to be a good experience for Enemalta jointers who showed high competence in their work. The rest of the 33kV and 11kV was carried out by Enemalta engineers and jointers on their own.

Protection and Substation Control Systems






The protection relays and the substation control system (SCS) were provided by AREVA. The 132kV protection relays and bay computers were installed on SIEMENS switchgear by Enemalta engineers and electrical fitters. 33kV and 11kV protection relays were installed by ABB on their switchgear before the switchgear was delivered. Protection panels required for this system were provided by MEDELEC, a local switchgear company forming part of AREVA consortium.

The necessary computers, fibre-optic cables and Ethernet switches and various types of switchgear control cables were installed by Enemalta electrical fitters and engineers. In fact hundred of metres of control cable were installed. This was quite challenging and required high technical ability but Enemalta employees again proved to have the necessary skills.

Finally the SCS was tested by AREVA engineers with the involvement of Enemalta engineers and technical staff. This control system will provide the necessary information and control to the distribution operations engineering office in Marsa administration building from where they now have total control of this substation.


Energising and loading the substation

After all the cables and equipment were tested, they were energised in stages throughout the final months. Following this the process to transfer the load from the old Mosta DC was accomplished. This required connecting the existing energised 33kV and 11kV cables to the new switchgear.

Localities such as Mellieha, Bugibba, Qawra, St Paul’s Bay, Mgarr, Mosta, Naxxar, Gharghur, Attard, Lija, Rabat, Dingli, Gozo and Comino are now supplied from this new DC. A 33kV cable was also laid from this DC to Mater Dei Hospital in order to provide an additional backup to the existing cables supplying Mater Dei from other DCs.




A big PROSIT goes to those employees involved coming from the Development Section, Distribution Maintenance Section, Distribution Workshop and Civil Section, not least the support given by the ICT and Procurement Sections. I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues for their cooperation and for providing the necessary human resources when required. Appreciation is also due to the section manager, Ing J Scicluna, for his continuous support and trust in the capabilities of the employees involved in this project.