In a press conference held in front of parliament, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that Malta needs a proper energy policy, not parliamentary gimmicks and energy populism.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “Unfortunately parliamentary gimmicks and energy populism are dictating energy policy matters in parliament. Franco Debono first votes in favour of the current BSWC dirty fuel project in Delimara, and now tables a motion against it. The Nationalist Government retains rock-bottom status in EU as regards renewable energy. Labour promises to reduce energy bills without saying how, and dreams of zero-emission floating power station fantasies.”
“The state needs to play a leading role in energy policy and should give priority to renewable energy. It should subsidize the basic consumption of energy while penalizing waste. The state can make good the expenditure required by progressive fiscal measures such as windfall taxes and taxes on those that harm the environment and financial speculation”.
Ralph Cassar, AD Secretary General and spokesperson on Energy, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “The neglect of the energy sector under successive PN Ministers is astounding. After two decades in government, Malta’s energy policy remains just a draft. The concept of “planning” seems to be alien to this government. Labour continues to fuel hopes of cheap electricity and panders to companies peddling billion euro coal power plants.
“Our proposals are crystal clear: first energy efficiency should be top priority, secondly massive investment to use as much as possible of available roof space for renewable energy systems. While some large energy infrastructure projects are necessary, including wind farms – which technology is already well developed, the aim should also be to invest in micro-projects which when added up will provide a sizeable chunk of renewable energy to meet the needs of the country. The lack of vision of the two other parties and their misleading populism means that Malta is still dependent on oil – making our economy very vulnerable”.
Malta ghandha bzonn politika tal-energija tajba, mhux teatrini – AD
Waqt konferenza stampa quddiem il-parlament, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party qalet li Malta ghandha bzonn politika tal-energija tajba u serja, mhux teatrini parlamentari u populizmu fuq l-energija.
Michael Briguglio, Chairperson ta’ AD, qal: “Sfortunatament it-teatrini parlamentari u l-populizmu tal-energija qeghdin jiddettaw il-politika tal-energija fil-parlament. Franco Debono l-ewwel jivvota favur il-progett taz-zejt mahmug tal-BWSC f’Delimara, imbaghad jaghmel mozzjoni bil-kontra. Il-Gvern Nazzjonalista jibqa’ minn ta’ l-ahhar fl-UE fejn tidhol energija rinovabbli. Il-Labour iweghdu li se jnaqqsu il-kontijiet tal-energija minghajr ma jghidu kif, u joholmu fuq fantasiji ta’ power station bla emissjonijiet fil-bahar.”
“L-istat ghandu rwol importanti fil-politika tal-energija u ghandu jaghti prijorita’ lill-energija rinovabbli. Ghandu jissussidja il-konsum baziku tal-energija filwaqt li jippenalizza il-hela. L-istat jista’ jaghmel tajjeb l-ispejjez b’mizuri bhall-windfall taxes u taxxi fuq dawk li jaghmlu hsara lill-ambjent u fuq spekulazzjoni finanzjajra”.
Ralph Cassar, Segretarju Generali tal-AD u kelliem fuq l-Energija, Infrastruttura u Transport, qal: “In-negligenza fis-settur tal-energija mill-gvernijiet succesivi taht Ministri tal-PN hija inkredibbli. Wara ghoxrin sena fil-gvern, il-politika tal-energija ta’ Malta baqat biss abbozz. Il-kuncett ta’ “pjanar” tibqa’ aljena ghal dan il-gvern. Minn naha l-ohra l-Labour jibqa’ iwieghed energija rhisa u jipprova jintghogob ma’ kumpaniji li jridu jibieghulna power station tal-faham li tiswa biljun ewro”.
“Il-proposti taghna huma cari daqs il-kristall: l-efficjenza tal-energija ghandha tkun l-ewwel prijorita’, it-tieni hemm bzonn investiment massiv kemm jista’ jkun fl-uzu tal-bjut kolha possibbli ghal sistemi ta’ energija rinovabbli. Filwaqt li xi whud mill-progetti kbar ta’ infrastruttura tal-energija huma mehtiega, inkluz il-wind farms – liema teknologija hija zviluppata ferm – l-ghan ghandu jkun biex isir investiment f’hafna progetti zghar li meta tghoddhom flimkien jipprovdu parti sostanzjali tal-energija rinovabbli. In-nuqqas ta’ vizjoni taz-zewg partiti l-ohra u l-populizmu li jqarraq ifisser li Malta baqat dipendenti fuq iz-zejt – u sadanittant l-ekonomija baqat vulnerabbli u esposta ghal suq imprevedibbli.”
Wara l-konferenza stampa ta’ AD…:
Id-dinja kienet teżisti ħafna qabel ma tfaċċa Franco Debono
