It's power to the people, and the darkness disappears

VALLETTA, Malta－Gone are the days when Kevin Grech experienced frequent power outages at home.

"When I was young, I remember that we had very frequent power cuts," said the 43-year-old Maltese. "We used to have places around the house where my mum left candles permanently because we were so used to having no light for hours on end. I used to do school homework under candlelight."

However, since Shanghai Electric Power's entry into the Maltese energy market, SEP has upgraded the Delimara 3 power station, or D3, in Marsaxlokk in southeastern Malta, turning it into a gas-fired one.

This has helped reduce emissions and improve air quality in the areas around the power plant, said Grech, who works in a factory not far from the D3 station.

"The bills are also much lower, and we can spend the money on our families instead. I think we can rely on the expertise of a reputable company like Shanghai Electric," he added.

The SEP "really helped us", said Carmen Mallia, another resident, who is also impressed by the power supply and environmental improvement after the SEP entered Malta in 2014.

Before that, the 62-year-old said Maltese people had not enjoyed high-quality and low-cost electricity services, and had to endure pollution from heavy oil-fired power stations.

"We now have a power station that works with gas, and we are paying lower rates for continuous electrical service," he said.

Since late June, Malta has been continuously hit by heat waves, which has put its power supply under heavy pressure. The D3 station, controlled and operated by the SEP, has run at full capacity during the summer. In July, the power station generated a total of 62.85 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, accounting for a quarter of the country's total electricity supply in the month.

To ensure safe and stable operation of all units, staff members at the station have carried out equipment inspection and maintenance on a regular basis despite the high temperatures.

'Full of motivation'

"Working outdoors in the heat waves is like running a marathon. I am full of motivation when I think that I can have the air conditioner on and enjoy delicious food with my family when I go home," said Ivan Cachia, deputy director of the operation and technology department at D3. "To ensure the power supply for Malta, the big home is equal to guarding numerous small homes like mine."

"Our teammates on both sides collaborate tacitly. We work together in the heat, encouraging and supporting each other," Li Yanbiao, a Chinese manager working for the D3, said.

Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo has also shown his appreciation for SEP's contributions in power supply and emissions reductions in Malta.

"It was very important for us to change from heavy fuel oil to gas. It helped a lot to decrease our emissions," said Bartolo.

He said that the SEP has played an important role in Malta's power supply, and he looks forward to further strengthening cooperation between Malta and SEP to advance the development of clean energy.

Xinhua