Maltese businesses investing in sustainable technologies and operations with the support of Malta Enterprise’s Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant will reduce their collective carbon footprint by 1,000 tonnes.
Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise, Miriam Dalli, announced the results of this green initiative during a visit to the db Seabank Hotel. This hotel is one of several enterprises that benefitted from this scheme to invest in a more efficient seawater reverse osmosis system, increasing energy efficiency by 22%, reducing water consumption by 78%, and decreasing carbon emissions by 10 tonnes. It has also invested in a heat-pump water heating system.
Minister Dalli explained that through the Smart and Sustainable Grant, Malta Enterprise has already supported 16 green projects by the private sector, with no intention of slowing down, as more businesses choose to follow the green transition. The Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, which will continue to be available throughout 2024, has already invested €1 million in local enterprises. The scheme’s aim is to offer financial assistance to businesses as they undergo a transformation towards more sustainable business operations.
“This government is committed to continuing to support enterprises to improve the sustainability and efficiency of their operations. By encouraging and supporting enterprises towards this green transition, we are helping businesses secure their future viability while contributing to our vision of a more sustainable and decarbonised economy in Malta. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable operations, and cleaner air are crucial factors for serious businesses committed to ensuring the future of their operations while safeguarding their communities,” Miriam Dalli said.
The minister also referred to the COP28 conclusions, where a landmark agreement was reached by countries to start transitioning away from fossil fuels. She emphasised the importance of this commitment and encouraged more enterprises to invest in sustainable operations. She reassured that the government would continue to provide support to achieve this objective. In fact, in 2024, it will double Malta Enterprise’s budget for schemes and other initiatives to help businesses improve their efficiency, quality, competitiveness, and sustainability.
Malta Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Kurt Farrugia explained that Malta Enterprise has always been there to help businesses in every way possible.
“In our constant talks with businesses, we have seen that reaching sustainability targets has been a growing concern for our businesses, and we want to be here to help. We want our businesses to be at the forefront of sustainability and innovative practices. We are very happy to be announcing this reduction in CO2 emissions and will continue to make sure that our businesses are at the forefront when it comes to the green transition,” explained Kurt Farrugia.
Robert Debono, Group CEO of db Group, highlighted that over the last couple of years, they have invested in initiatives to not only reduce costs but also reduce their carbon footprint, such as the installation of a brand-new Building Management System and Room Management System. “We invested in a new RO, which has double the capacity of the old one. The new two heat pumps, which are not only more efficient for room heating but can also cool, will therefore replace the chiller, which will be more efficient. For a total investment of over €300,000,” Robert Debono said.
For more information about the Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, visit maltaenterprise.com.
Inizjattiva tal-gvern tgħin lin-negozji jnaqqsu 1,000 tunellata emissjonijiet tal-karbonju fis-sena – estiża l-iskema Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant għall-2024
In-negozji Maltin li qed jinvestu f’teknoloġiji u f’operat aktar sostenibbli bl-għajnuna ta’ Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant ta’ Malta Enterprise qed flimkien inaqqsu l-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju tagħhom b’1,000 tunellata fis-sena.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli ħabbret ir-riżultati ta’ din l-inizjattiva ambjentali waqt żjara fil-lukanda db Seabank. Din il-lukanda hija waħda minn għadd ta’ intrapriżi li bbenefikaw minn din l-iskema biex investiet f’sistema aktar effiċjenti ta’ reverse osmosis biex taqleb l-ilma baħar f’ilma tax-xorb. B’hekk żiedet l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija bi 22%, naqqset il-konsum tal-ilma b’78% u naqqset ukoll l-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju b’10 tunellati. Investiet ukoll f’sistema ta’ heat pump biex issaħħan l-ilma.
Il-Ministru Dalli spjegat li permezz tal-iskema Smart and Sustainable, Malta Enterprise diġà appoġġat 16-il proġett ambjentali mis-settur privat, filwaqt li tinsab fil-proċess biex tgħin ħafna oħrajn, hekk kif aktar negozji qed ikomplu jersqu lejn it-tranżizzjoni ambjentali. L-iskema Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, li se tibqa’ miftuħa anke matul is-sena 2024, diġà investiet €1 miljun fl-intrapriżi lokali. L-għan tal-iskema hu li toffri għajnuna finanzjarja lin-negozji sabiex jagħmlu l-operat kummerċjali tagħhom aktar sostenibbli.
“Il-gvern huwa kommess li jkomplu jappoġġja l-intrapriżi biex itejbu s-sostenibbiltà u l-effiċjenza tal-operat tagħhom. Billi ninkoraġġixxu u ngħinu lill-intrapriżi lejn din it-tranżizzjoni ambjentali, qed ngħinuhom jiżguraw il-vijabilità tagħhom fil-futur, filwaqt li jikkontribwixxu għall-viżjoni lejn ekonomija aktar sostenibbli u dekarbonizzata f’Malta. L-effiċjenza fl-enerġija, it-tnaqqis tal-iskart, l-operat sostenibbli u arja aktar nadifa huma fatturi kruċjali għal negozji serji li huma impenjati biex jiżguraw il-futur tal-operat tagħhom waqt li jipproteġu l-komunitajiet tagħhom”, qalet Miriam Dalli.
Il-ministru rreferiet ukoll għall-konklużjonijiet tal-konferenza dinjija COP28, fejn intlaħaq ftehim storiku mill-pajjiżi biex jibdew it-tranżizzjoni lejn it-tnaqqis tal-karburanti fossili. Saħqet fuq l-importanza ta’ dan l-impenn internazzjonali u ħeġġet aktar intrapriżi biex jinvestu f’operat sostenibbli. Assigurat li l-gvern se jkompli jipprovdi l-appoġġ biex tintlaħaq din il-mira. Fil-fatt, fl-2024, il-gvern se jirdoppja l-fondi lil Malta Enterprise għal skemi u inizzjattivi oħrajn t’għajnuna lin-negozji sabiex itejbu l-effiċjenza, l-kwalità, l-kompetittività u s-sostenibbiltà.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia spjega li Malta Enterprise minn dejjem ħadmet biex tgħin lin-negozji b’kull mod possibbli. “Fid-diskussjonijiet kontinwi tagħna man-negozji, rajna li kien hemm tħassib dwar kif jistgħu jintlaħqu l-miri tas-sostenibbiltà. Għalhekk qed noffru l-għajnuna f’dan il-qasam ukoll. Irridu lin-negozji tagħna jkunu minn ta’ quddiem fis-sostenibbiltà u l-prattiċi innovattivi. Qed nieħdu gost naraw kif din l-għajnuna qed tnaqqas l-emissjonijiet u se nkomplu niżguraw li n-negozji tagħna jibqgħu jirnexxu fit-tranżizzjoni ambjentali”, spjega Kurt Farrugia.
Robert Debono, Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ db Group, tkellem kif dawn l-aħħar snin investew f’inizjattivi biex mhux biss inaqqsu l-ispejjeż iżda biex inaqqsu l-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju, bħall-installazzjonijiet ġodda tal-Building Management System u Room Management System. “Aħna investejna f’reverse osmosis b’kapaċità doppja kkumparata mas-sistema l-antika. Iż-żewġ heat pumps il-ġodda se jieħdu post iċ-chiller l-antik. B’hekk se jkollna sistema aktar effiċjenti ta’ kif isaħħnu u jkessħu l-kmamar. Dan kollu b’investiment ta’ €300,000”, qal Robert Debono.
Għal iżjed tagħrif dwar Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, żur maltaenterprise.com.
