Malta se tesplora l-possibbiltà ta’ produzzjoni ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli mill-Afrika ta’ Fuq
Ġiet ippubblikata sejħa, magħrufa bħala Pre Market Consultation, bil-għan li tibda tkun esplorata l-possibbiltà u l-vijabilità ta’ proġetti ta’ produzzjoni ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli fl-Afrika ta’ Fuq u l-possibilità li din tintuża bħala parti mill-mix fil-provvista tal-enerġija f’Malta.
Ħabbret dan il-Ministru għall-Ambjent u l-Enerġija Miriam Dalli, meta kienet qed titkellem waqt il-konferenza bit-tema ‘Reaffirming Business Commitment to The Green Transition’ organizzata mill-Climate Action Authority.
Il-Ministru Dalli saħqet li fil-klima internazzjonali ta’ bħalissa qed joħroġ dejjem iktar b’mod ċar kemm kien kruċjali li l-Gvern ikun iffokat bi pjan ċar fis-settur tal-enerġija. Il-Ministru Dalli tenniet li l-Gvern se jibqa’ joffri l-istabbiltà meħtieġa fil-prezzijiet, fl-istess ħin li se jibqa’ jesplora dawk il-proġetti li jistgħu jkomplu jlestu lil Malta għall-futur kif maħsub ukoll fil-Viżjoni Malta 2050.
Kien f’dan il-kuntest li l-Ministru Dalli spjegat il-proġetti diversi li għaddejjin fis-settur tal-enerġija, u hawn ħabret ukoll Pre Market Consultation li ġiet ippubblikata minn Interconnect Malta, biex permezz tagħha jkun esplorat x’potenzjal jeżisti biex enerġija rinovabbli mill-Afrika ta’ Fuq tasal sad-djar f’Malta. “Din il-PMC għandha l-għan li tiġbor informazzjoni teknika, inkluż spejjeż indikattivi. L-operaturi ekonomiċi se jkunu mistiedna jipproponu l-proġetti tagħhom,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli li fissret kif f’dan il-mument il-pajjiż se jkun qed jesplora l-possibilitajiet li jeżistu. “Qed nevalwaw il-fattibbiltà, nesploraw l-għażliet, biex imbagħad insegwu b’deċiżjonijiet li jkunu bbażati fuq l-evidenza,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli li spjegat kif is-sejħa titlob diversi kunsiderazzjonijiet fosthom dawk li joffru taħlita bbilanċjata ta’ riżorsi kemm mix-xemx u kemm mir-riħ.
Il-Ministru Dalli spjegat ukoll kif ix-xogħol fuq it-tieni interconnector jinsab miexi b’ritmu tajjeb ferm, kif ukoll għaddej il-proċess tal-proġett ta’ ġenerazzjoni ta’ elettriku mir-riħ barra mill-ibħra territorjali Maltin. Spjegat kif dawn il-proġetti juru viżjoni ċara bi proġetti li se jibdew jaħdmu fix-xhur li ġejjin, għal dawk li huma maħsuba u li qed jiġu mħejjija biex il-frott tagħhom jinqata’ fi żmien li ġej.
Saħqet li l-ambizzjonijiet tal-Gvern Malti għall-innovazzjoni għandhom jibagħtu wkoll sinjal lill-komunità tal-investiment u n-negozju, li l-istabbiltà li qed joffri l-Gvern Malti għandha tkun impetus b’saħħtu għat-tranżizzjoni ambjentali u l-mixja lejn is-sostenibbiltà għandhom jibqgħu fiċ-ċentru tad-deċiżjonijiet li jittieħdu. Sostniet kif dawk li jħaddnu l-bidla huma dawk li se jmorru l-aħjar, għax ikollhom vantaġġi ta’ kompetittività u ta’ kwalità. Fil-fatt, diġà hawn diversi kumpaniji Maltin li huma xhieda ta’ dan. Kien għalhekk li saħqet ukoll li l-konferenza organizzata mill-Climate Action Authority kienet f’waqtha.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv Inġ. Ismail D’Amato ta’ Interconnect Malta qal, “Interconnect Malta qed tistieden uffiċjalment lill-parteċipanti biex jieħdu sehem f’din il-PMC sabiex tiġi ffaċilitata l-importazzjoni ta’ 0.8 TWh ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli kull sena, li tkopri madwar 25% tad-domanda tal-elettriku ta’ Malta għall-2025. L-għan ta’ din l-inizjattiva huwa li tiġi esplorata l-fattibbiltà ta’ provvista ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli ‘baseload’ li tnaqqas l-intermittenza tar-rinnovabbli tradizzjonali, filwaqt li jintuża qafas ta’ Contract for Difference bi prezz fiss għal 25 sena, immirat biex jipprovdi stabbiltà fil-prezz fit-tul u protezzjoni għall-familji u n-negozji Maltin kontra l-volatilità tas-swieq globali tal-fjuwils fossili.”
L-impenn lejn it-tranżizzjoni ħadra kien rifless ukoll fil-parteċipazzjoni qawwija fil-konferenza tal-Climate Action Authority li ġabet flimkien kapijiet eżekuttivi, uffiċjali għolja ta’ kumpaniji, investituri, akkademiċi u anke rappreżentanti tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea.
L-Inġ Abigail Cutajar, Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Climate Action Authority, saħqet li l-irwol tal-awtorità imur lil hinn mir-rwol ta’ regolatur. “Qegħdin hawn biex nippromwovu l-bidla. Qegħdin hawn biex nassistu u nigwidaw, għaliex it-tranżizzjoni hija xi ħaġa li rridu nagħmlu flimkien. Filwaqt li nifhem perfettament l-isfidi li jeżistu bħalissa, it-tibdil fil-klima ma’ waqafx jistenna li nsolvu dawn il-kunflitti u għalhekk l-effetti kbar se jinħassu xorta. Huwa għalhekk li qegħdin hawn intennu l-impenn li nagħmlu din il-bidla flimkien,” qalet il-Kap Eżekuttiv Cutajar li elenkat numru sostanzjali ta’ inizjattivi li l-Climate Action Authority għaddejja bihom biex iġġib differenza konkreta.
Malta to explore the possibility of renewable energy production from North Africa
A call, known as a Pre-Market Consultation, has been issued with the aim of starting to explore the possibility and viability of renewable energy production projects in North Africa, and the possibility of using this energy as part of Malta’s energy supply mix.
This was announced by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli, while speaking at the conference titled “Reaffirming Business Commitment to the Green Transition,” organised by the Climate Action Authority.
Minister Dalli stressed that, in the current international climate, it is becoming increasingly clear how crucial it was for the Government to remain focused with a clear plan in the energy sector. She reiterated that the Government would continue to provide the necessary price stability, while also continuing to explore projects that can further prepare Malta for the future, as outlined in Malta Vision 2050.
In this context, Minister Dalli explained the various ongoing energy projects and announced the Pre-Market Consultation which has been published by Interconnect Malta. Through this, the potential for renewable energy from North Africa to reach homes in Malta will be explored. She said that the consultation aims to gather technical information, including indicative costs, and that economic operators will be invited to propose their projects.
“At this stage, the country will be exploring the possibilities that exist. We are evaluating feasibility and exploring options so that decisions can later be taken based on evidence,” said Minister Dalli, adding that the call will consider various factors, including proposals that offer a balanced mix of resources from both solar and wind energy.
Minister Dalli also explained that work on the second interconnector is progressing well, and that the process for the offshore wind electricity generation project outside Malta’s territorial waters is ongoing. She noted that these projects reflect a clear vision, with some expected to start operating in the coming months, while others are being prepared for future implementation.
She emphasised that the Maltese Government’s ambitions for innovation should also send a signal to the investment and business community that the stability being offered by the Government should act as a strong impetus for environmental transition. Sustainability and the green transition, she said, must remain central to decision-making. She added that those who embrace change will benefit the most, gaining competitive and quality advantages – something already demonstrated by several Maltese companies. She also noted that the conference organised by the Climate Action Authority was timely.
Chief Executive Officer Ing. Ismail D’Amato of Interconnect Malta stated, “Interconnect Malta is officially inviting market participants to engage in this Preliminary Market Consultation to facilitate the importation of 0.8 TWh of renewable energy annually, covering approximately 25% of Malta’s 2025 electricity demand. The objective of this initiative is to explore the feasibility of a ‘baseload’ supply of renewable energy that reduces the intermittency of traditional renewables, while utilizing a 25-year fixed-price Contract for Difference framework aimed to provide long-term price stability and protection for Maltese families and businesses against the volatility of global fossil fuel markets.”
The commitment to the green transition was also reflected in the strong participation at the conference, which brought together CEOs, senior company officials, investors, academics, and representatives of the European Commission.
Ing. Abigail Cutajar, CEO of the Climate Action Authority, emphasised that the authority’s role goes beyond that of a regulator. “We are here to promote change. We are here to assist and guide, because the transition is something we must achieve together. While I fully understand the current challenges, climate change has not stopped to wait for us to resolve these conflicts, and its major effects will still be felt. That is why we are here to reaffirm our commitment to making this change together,” she said, listing a substantial number of initiatives currently being undertaken by the Climate Action Authority to make a concrete difference.