Corradino Power Station
| Corradino 'C' | |
|---|---|
| Location | Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°52′51″N 14°30′49″E / 35.88083°N 14.51361°E |
| Status | Abandoned |
| Owner | Enemalta |
The Corradino Power Station (also known as the Kordin underground power station as well as Corradino 'C') was an underground steam-powered electricity production facility located in tunnels underneath the Corradino industrial area of Paola, Malta. It formed part of Malta's early power infrastructure and operated until the late 1980s. [1]
History
Electricity was first introduced to Malta in the late 19th century, initially serving limited areas and privileged customers. As demand grew, the government extended supply to Valletta, Floriana, Cospicua, and other localities, necessitating a centrally located power station.[2][3][4]
Energy generation
The Corradino Power Station was established as a steam-generated plant with two processes, diesel-direct generation and steam turbines. By 1982, it was generating a measly 12 megawatts from steam turboalternator [5] compared to the 115 MW generated by Marsa A and Marsa B power stations in the same year.[6] Steam operations at Corradino ceased in 1987 and the site remained in service until 1992.[1][7]
Diesel-direct
English Electric Fullagar opposed-piston heavy fuel oil engines (1930s - 1940s[8]) directly drove generators. Heavy fuel oil was injected inside the cylinders which drove pistons coupled to alternators. This is a rare deisgn since of 12 surviving worldwide, six are located at Kordin.[9][10][11] Each four‑cylinder two‑stroke unit used opposed pistons in a single cylinder with a single crankshaft and oblique connecting‑rods driving the upper pistons, and incorporated built‑in scavenge pumps.[12]
Steam turbines
Separate boilers fed two Parsons steam turbines. It preceded and later coexisted with the larger Marsa Power Station, which began operation in the 1950s and was eventually decommissioned in 2015. [1]
Location and Site Background
The Corradino industrial area has a long history of strategic and industrial use. During the French blockade of Malta (1798–1800), Maltese insurgents constructed the Corradino Batteries on the heights above the area to besiege French positions in the Grand Harbour. By the 20th century, the area had become heavily industrialized.[13][14][3]
In the 1990s, a large fuel storage tank was constructed near the Corradino industrial area, opposite the Marsa Power Station, as part of a planned tank farm project. However, due to structural defects, the tank was never used and was slated for demolition in 2006. [1]
Closure and Legacy
The Corradino Power Station was decommissioned in 1992[15] as newer and more efficient plants, such as the Delimara Power Station (opened 1992), took over electricity generation. The site was described as one of the "most interesting archaelogical sites on Malta" by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Ghirlando.[1][7]
The site was used as temporary storage for asbestos, however a tender was issued to clean the site from asbestos.[15][16]
The station has been considered for the site of a museum.[17] and the surface above ground has since been turned into a sports ground.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "The historical antecedents of the Marsa Power Station - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
- ^ Calleja, Claudia (2013-01-18). "Malta's first power station gets restoration go-ahead". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ a b Contributors (2025-01-27). "The Corradino Lines: still surviving but inaccessible". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Gravino, Lorraine. "About us - History of Electricity - Enemalta". www.enemalta.com.mt. Archived from the original on 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Hilary, Brother (1982). "Malta Yearbook 1982 : generalia".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Malta, Times of (2015-03-09). "Marsa power station switched off, again, as 'target date' for new power station slips by". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
- ^ a b "TIA - ENEMALTA" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ uniquelynorthcoast (2018-03-17). "Inside the South Lismore power house". uniquely north coast. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
- ^ "Fullagar Engines - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
- ^ Skeates, Robin (2023-04-13). "Andrea Pessina and Nicholas C. Vella, eds. Luigi Ugolini's Malta Antica I: i templi neolitici di Tarscien. The Tarxien Neolithic Temples (Valletta: Midsea Books Ltd, 2021, 531pp., 395 figs, hbk, ISBN 978-99932-7-397-4) - Andrea Pessina, Nicholas C. Vella and Anton Bugeja, eds. Luigi Ugolini's Malta Antica II: i maggiori templi neolitici e l'ipogeo. The Major Neolithic Temples and the Hypogeum (Valletta: Midsea Books Ltd, 2021, 271pp., 233 figs, hbk, ISBN 978-99932-7-398-1) - Andrea Pessina, Nicholas C. Vella and Anton Bugeja, eds. Luigi Ugolini's Malta Antica III: templi neolitici minori e monumenti megalitici. Minor Neolithic Temples and Megalithic Monuments (Valletta: Midsea Books Ltd, 2021, 156pp., 111 figs, hbk, ISBN 978-99932-7-399-8) - Andrea Pessina and Nicolas C. Vella. Malta and Mediterranean Prehistory: Luigi Maria Ugolini, Politics, and Archaeology between the Two World Wars (Midsea Books Ltd, 2021, 508pp., 238 figs, hbk, ISBN 978-99932-7-758-3)". European Journal of Archaeology. 26 (2): 251–257. doi:10.1017/eaa.2023.8. ISSN 1461-9571.
- ^ "Studying Transformations of Industrial Heritage Sites: Synchronic Discourse Analysis of Heritage Conservation, Urban Development, and Architectural Production", Industrial Heritage Sites in Transformation, Routledge, pp. 22–36, 2014-08-07, ISBN 978-1-315-79799-1, retrieved 2026-02-02
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ^ "Collection » Faraday Museum of Technology". www.faradaymuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
- ^ "French Blockade Batteries". Vassallo History. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Spiteri, Stephen C. (2007). "Maltese 'Siege' batteries of the blockade 1798-1800".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Sansone, Kurt (2011-07-24). "Asbestos can still be found in underground power station". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ "Lack Of asbestos insurance questioned by experts - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
- ^ Contributors (2012-11-22). "Underground museum at Marsa power station". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Agius, Ritianne (2017-11-21). "Abandoned land at Kordin to be turned into football and rugby ground". TVMnews.mt. Retrieved 2026-02-02.