Italian operator secures interconnector-2 contract
Sardinia-based energy operator Selt has secured a €34.2 million contract to manufacture and install onshore cables for the second Malta-Sicily electricity interconnector (IC2), marking a “major milestone” for the project, according to Interconnect Malta. Selt’s bid was the lowest among five contenders, with other offers ranging from €41.4 million to €64.3 million. The contract includes supplying, trenching, installing, and restoring 21km of high-voltage cables in Sicily and 1. (Newsbook)
Competition regulator not investigating Lidl’s plan for two more supermarkets
Malta’s competition regulator, MCCAA, is not investigating Lidl’s plans to open new supermarkets in Żebbuġ and Qormi, according to a spokesperson for the authority. Recently, the regulator blocked Lidl’s bid to acquire a Scotts supermarket in Żabbar, citing concerns about the chain’s dominance in the southern region. However, since the new Żebbuġ and Qormi outlets do not involve acquiring existing supermarkets, no similar action will be taken. If the plans proceed, Lidl will have four branches within a seven-kilometre stretch from Żebbuġ to Luqa, raising the total number of outlets in Malta and Gozo to 12. (Times of Malta)
Average monthly salary inches close to €2k monthly
Maltese workers reported an average basic monthly salary of €1,942 between April and June 2024, up from €1,820 in the same period last year. Salaries varied from €1,280 for elementary roles to €3,162 for managerial positions. On average, male workers earned €129 more than their female counterparts, largely due to a higher proportion of women working part-time. The Labour Force Survey indicates that 18.3% of women were employed part-time, compared to just 6.6% of men.
