Power Cuts in Gozo & Parts of Malta After Fires Develop

Jul 17 2024

On Tuesday, Gozo experienced island-wide power cuts for extended hours after fires developed on one of the cables supplying the island. Many frustrated residents took to social media, highlighting their households’ wait of up to five hours without electricity or any feedback from authorities. The lack of live updates further aggravated the situation, leaving many in uncertainty about when their power might be restored.

Enemalta plc addressed the issue with a series of statements, explaining that their engineers and technicians were actively working to restore electricity. According to Enemalta, the disruption began on Tuesday evening when a fire broke out on one of the electricity cables supplying Gozo. This incident affected another cable, exacerbating the outage.

The Civil Protection Department (CPD) was called to the site to manage the situation. For safety reasons, Enemalta had to switch off all the cables within the culvert supplying electricity to Gozo. Enemalta’s distribution teams then took necessary measures to gradually restore the supply.

Power cuts were also reported in a number of areas on Malta on Tuesday, including St. Julian’s, Mellieha, Attard and San Gwann.

Did you have experience any power cuts yesterday?

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45% of Businesses in Malta Face Employee Shortage

Jul 17 2024

45 % of Malta’s SMEs have stated that employee shortage is the most important issue they are facing, according to a study compiled by the Malta Chamber of SMEs and MISCO.

The SME Barometer, which is a quarterly survey which provides insight into economic trends, business sentiment and the state of small and medium sized- enterprises in Malta, was conducted by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with MISCO.

The survey had a total of 372 respondents, and was conducted between the 5th – 15th July 2024, with a 4.9% margin of error. The majority of respondents(51%) were business that had one to nine employees, 30% having 10-49, 16% with more than 50+ employees, and 3% having 249 employees and more.

One of the main questions, SMEs were asked what the two most important issues that their business is currently facing are, with employee shortage coming out on top. This indicates that, after being surpassed by worries about an increase in inflation, this issue has taken the top rank among those that require attention. In the first quarter of 2024, the percentage of SMEs pointing towards increase in inflation as one of their primary concerns which stood at 28%. Where as in the recent study it was revealed that it has decreased to 22%.

Employee shortage in particular was a concern as it has increased up to 45% in the small and medium-sized business sector. Other top issues that were identified by SMEs include Unfair Competition (25%), Issues with Late Payments (18%) , and Lower Client Demand ( 17%).

In recent years, companies worldwide, including Malta, have encountered difficulties locating qualified employees due tot tight labour circumstances being fuelled by skills shortages and rising wage demands.

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Fosos left Spotless After Isle of MTV Concert

Jul 17 2024

Following a massive Isle of MTV concert organized by Malta Tourism Authority, MTV, G7 events last night, the swift intervention of the Cleaning and Maintenance Division played a crucial role in restoring the venue to its spotless state.

The dedicated team from the Cleaning and Maintenance Division sprang into action immediately after the event concluded. Working for four hours overnight, they cleaned, washed, and collected waste from the roads surrounding the concert venue. Their efforts were focused so that the public could once again enjoy a pristine environment.

The swift and thorough cleanup ensured that the area was safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike, highlighting the essential role of the Cleaning and Maintenance Division in managing large-scale public events.

Credits: Ramon Deguara

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1.8 Million Passengers Cross Malta and Gozo in 3 Months

Jul 17 2024

A notable increase in trips between Malta and Gozo was observed from April to June 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Over 11,000 sea crossings were made between the two islands during this period, carrying nearly 1.8 million passengers. The highest number of trips occurred in May, totaling about 4,000, which accounts for 35% of the trips in the three-month period.

The Mġarr to Ċirkewwa route experienced a slight decrease in passenger numbers, with just over 1.5 million passengers, compared to the second quarter of 2023. However, a 2% increase was noted in the number of vehicles transported, reaching over half a million.

The busiest days for passenger and vehicle traffic from Ċirkewwa were Friday and Saturday, as indicated by traffic patterns, while Saturday and Sunday were the busiest for passengers from Mġarr. Vehicle traffic from Mġarr was highest on Sundays and Mondays.

The Mġarr to Valletta fast ferry route saw an increase in both trips and passengers. Over 2,000 trips were made in the second quarter of 2024, indicating a 5% increase compared to the same three months in 2023. Passenger numbers on this route surged by almost 40%, totaling 252,960 passengers.

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