Since his appointment to the role of CEO in June of last year, Jorge Perez already had a clear visual of where he wants to take ElectroGas Malta. In fact, with more than 20 years’ experience in the utilities sector, having led large scale power-production plants around the world, mainly in the Middle East, Mr Perez intends to double down on the efficient running of the ElectroGas plant, while reaching out to the community it serves.

“We can all agree on the importance of power-production in a small island economy like Malta. In fact, electricity production is considered as a core component of Malta’s infrastructure. As Malta’s primary energy producer, we are aware of how ElectroGas plays a vital role in keeping the country’s lights on, and engines running, particularly in moments of peak demand,” Mr Perez acknowledges from the outset.

This value provides the backdrop to ElectroGas Malta’s continuous drive towards sustainability and efficiency as it continues to invest heavily in its energy plant, with a particular focus on upgrades to its natural gas turbines.

“In October last year, we completed a major turbine upgrade that boosted our electricity output while improving fuel efficiency — all without increasing fuel consumption. In simple terms, we’re now generating more power from the same amount of gas, making our operations more efficient than ever.”

He likened the improvement to getting more mileage from a car without using more fuel “It is like investing to upgrade your car engine with better parts to obtain greater horsepower and better fuel efficiency at the same time. Same principle applies here. We are aware that the more efficient we run our plant, the more energy we can produce while keeping our running expenses, and more importantly, our carbon footprint in check,” Mr Perez explains.

The continuous investment serves to bolster the company’s capabilities, to provide the necessary power supply the island needs, especially during peak consumption.

“Though we are not the only players in the complex equation that is Malta’s energy supply chain, we are committed to consistently exceeding expectations. I must point out that July marked the fourth consecutive month with 100% availability, a clear reflection of consistent operational discipline and teamwork.”

Governed by Enemalta, the public entity responsible for distribution, Malta’s energy mix includes other players, such as the Malta-Sicily interconnector, and Delimara Three, which is used as a peaking plant.

“We generate electricity in line with Enemalta’s demand requirements, ensuring a reliable and stable baseload that forms the backbone of the national grid. As the leading contributor to Malta’s energy mix, ElectroGas continues to be the most efficient and consistent player in the sector.”

Highlighting the vital role ElectroGas plays in Malta, Mr. Perez stressed the importance of a stable, reliable, and efficient power supply. He noted that recent events abroad, such as a major grid failure in Spain that caused widespread disruption and even loss of life, serve as a stark reminder of what is at stake. “Here in Malta, our work ensures that homes, businesses, and essential services can depend on uninterrupted electricity every single day — indispensable to Malta’s daily life and economic activity. Since the introduction of the LNG Power Station, cleaner operations have significantly reduced emissions, improving air quality and contributing to a healthier, more vibrant community compared to the past.”

In this context, ElectroGas is also adamant to raise awareness within the community it serves, about the large-scale operation that goes on behind the scenes to guarantee security of energy-supply.

“We have started reaching out to the community of Marsaxlokk, which is literally our neighbourhood, to show them what takes place at the plant and how our complex systems work. We were extremely pleased to note the overwhelming interest we received as a result. Soon, we will be expanding our efforts to reach larger sectors of the community, through planned initiatives and stakeholder projects, such as plant tours, school engagement, and information sessions in Marsaxlokk,” he concludes.