Il-Ministru għall-enerġija Miriam Dalli qaltilna li l-gvern qed ifittex ftehim ġdid għal provvista ta’ gass fuq terminu qasir. Kull kriżi internazzjonali tkompli tenfasizza l-vulnerabbiltà ta’ pajjiżna fis-settur tal-enerġija.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party, Sandra Gauci, insistiet li għalkemm l-ebda kriżi internazzjonali mhi tort tal-gvern, din is-sitwazzjoni terġa’ turi falliment fundamentali: nuqqas ta’ ippjanar fit-tul u tkaxkir tas-saqajn tul għexieren ta’ snin. Il-politika tal-enerġija ma tistax tibqa’ tfisser illi jinħarqu biljuni ta’ ewro f’sussidji lil kulħadd, jaħli kemm jaħli, kull darba li tfaqqa’ kriżi ġdida.

“Id-dipendenza żejda ta’ Malta fuq il-fuels fossili importati tagħmilha vulnerabbli ħafna għall-kriżijiet internazzjonali. Kif wrew l-iżviluppi internazzjonali, il-varjazzjonijiet fis-swieq taż-żejt u l-gass jistgħu iwasslu għal żidiet fl-ispejjeż u instabbiltà ekonomika f’daqqa għal pajjiżi żgħar u dipendenti fuq l-importazzjoni bħal Malta. Is-suppost soluzzjoni tal-interconnectors, li tant ftaħru biha l-partiti l-oħra,  irriżultat li kienet soluzzjoni falza. Filwaqt li konnessjoni mal-grid Ewropew hija essenzjali, dan ma jfissirx awtomatikament elettriku rħis. Strateġija tal-enerġija li tħares ’il quddiem trid għalhekk tagħti prijorità lir-reżiljenza, is-sostenibbiltà u l-indipendenza. L-enerġija rinnovabbli hija l-unika soluzzjoni kredibbli fit-tul.”

Id-Deputy Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party, Carmel Cacopardo, qal: “Niddejqu ngħidu ‘għednilkom’, iżda s-sinjali ilhom evidenti għal żmien twil. Investiment fl-enerġija solari u dik mir-riħ, f’sistemi ta’ ħażna tal-enerġija u f’infrastruttura ta’ grid b’saħħitha jnaqqas b’mod sinifikanti d-dipendenza ta’ Malta fuq il-fuels importati. L-espansjoni tal-produzzjoni tal-enerġija rinnovabbli mhux biss tnaqqas sostanzjalment l-emissjonijiet u l-ħsara ambjentali, iżda wkoll tipproteġi l-ekonomija tagħna minn xokkijiet esterni, tistabbilizza l-ispejjeż tal-enerġija u ssaħħaħ is-sigurtà nazzjonali u s-sovranità enerġetika.”

ADPD-The Green Party ilu jipproponi b’mod konsistenti politika komprensiva tal-enerġija ffukata fuq ġenerazzjoni rinnovabbli deċentralizzata, proġetti ta’ enerġija fil-komunitajiet tagħna u investiment serju fl-effiċjenza enerġetika. Il-politika tal-enerġija hija wkoll politika ambjentali, ekonomika u industrijali. L-istaġun ta’ wegħdiet vojta u bla sens mhu se jwassalna mkien.

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Despite one crisis after the other they never learn

The reports that the government is seeking a new short-term gas supply agreement is of concern. Each and every international crisis highlights our country’s vulnerability in the energy sector.

ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci insisted that although no international crisis is of the government’s making, this situation underlines once again a fundamental failure, a failure to plan long-term. Energy policy cannot continue to be shaped by burning billions of Euros in subsidies to all and sundry when yet another crisis crops up.

“Malta’s over-reliance on imported fossil fuels leaves it acutely vulnerable to international crises. As global events have shown, fluctuations in oil and gas markets can rapidly translate into higher costs and economic instability for small, import-dependent countries like Malta. The so-called solution of relying on interconnectors has proven to be a false promise. While connection to the European grid is a must, this does not translate automatically into cheap electricity. A forward-looking energy strategy must therefore prioritise resilience, sustainability and independence. Renewable energy is the only credible long-term solution.” 

ADPD-The Green Party Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said: ”We do not like saying ‘we told you so’, but the writing has been on the wall for ages, investment in solar and wind energy, energy storage systems, and improved grid infrastructure would significantly reduce Malta’s dependence on imported fuels. Expanding renewable energy generation not only reduces emissions substantially but also shields our economy from external shocks, stabilises energy costs, and strengthens national security and energy sovereignty.”

ADPD-The Green Party has consistently proposed a comprehensive energy policy centred on decentralised renewable generation, community energy projects, and serious investment in energy efficiency. Energy policy is also environmental policy, economic policy and industrial policy. The Father Christmas season of silly promises will not get us anywhere