English Version :
Following intense negotiations at the Energy Council that continued today in Brussels, EU Energy Ministers reached a deal that can help introduce a market correction mechanism for natural gas, also known as a gas price cap.
This market correction mechanism is aimed at stabilising the natural gas markets when prices start increasing to excessive levels. This has been the situation for the past months across the European Union, when prices have increased to unprecedented levels, particularly during the month of August.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli highlighted the importance of reaching an agreement needed to calm the markets and stabilise gas prices. Minister Dalli underscored the necessity of this agreement for Malta, as Malta uses gas for energy production.
The agreement aims to trigger the correction mechanism when gas prices start increasing beyond €180 with inbuilt safeguards for suspension and deactivation so as not to endanger the gas market.
The price cap agreed and the whole mechanism is expected to result in manageable energy prices on the European continent from where Malta imports its electricity through the Interconnector.
Minister for Energy, the Environment and Enterprise Miriam Dalli stated that this is a good step forward. “What we have been experiencing across the European Union in the past few months has put much strain on our economies, households, and industries. We need different solutions to the current situation to attempt to lower the price of gas used for electricity. I believe that this regulation is one step in the right direction and, together with other decisions, has the potential to control energy prices to some extent,” she added.
The war on Ukraine has led to exorbitant energy prices, and whilst high energy prices will continue for the following months, the European Union is trying to implement regulations that can, to some extent, control such increases.
“In Malta, we have taken the bold decision to retain energy prices stable for families and entrepreneurs, considering that the vast majority of our industries are SMEs. This means that the government has to work harder at the European level to ensure that gas prices do not increase uncontrollably,” she added.
Energy Ministers also reached an agreement on two other emergency regulations, one relating to permitting for renewables and another one ensuring solidarity in cases of crisis.
Maltese Version
Jintlaħaq qbil fuq il-limitu tal-prezz tal-gass (gas price cap) mill-Ministri tal-Enerġija tal-Unjoni Ewropea
Wara negozjati intensivi fil-Kunsill tal-Enerġija, li komplew illum fi Brussell, il-Ministri tal-Enerġija tal-Unjoni Ewropea laħqu ftehim li se jkun qed jgħin biex jiddaħħal mekkaniżmu ta’ korrezzjoni tas-suq, magħruf ukoll bħala ‘gas price cap’.
Il-mekkaniżmu ta’ korrezzjoni tas-suq huwa maħsub biex iwassal għall-istabbilità fis-swieq tal-gass naturali meta l-prezzijiet jibdew jogħlew b’mod eċċessiv. Din kienet is-sitwazzjoni fl-aħħar xhur fl-Unjoni Ewropea, meta l- prezzijiet żdiedu b’mod eċċessiv, partikolarment fix-xahar t’Awwissu.
F’kummenti lil ġurnalisti fil-bidu tal-laqgħa, il-Ministru għall-Enerġija, l-Ambjent u l-Intrapriża, Miriam Dalli saħqet fuq l-importanza li jintlaħaq dan il-ftehim. Qalet li dan huwa bżonnjuż biex ikunu stabilizzati kemm il- prezz kif ukoll is-suq tal-gass. Il-Ministru Dalli qalet li dan il-ftehim huwa neċessarju għal Malta peress li Malta tuża l-gass biex tipproduċi l-enerġija.
Il-ftehim milħuq għandu l-għan li jattiva dan il-mekkaniżmu ta’ korrezzjoni meta l-prezz tal-gass jogħla ‘l fuq minn €180 u li fih jinkludi salvagwardji għas-sospensjoni u d- diżattivazzjoni biex b’hekk jiġi mħares is-suq tal- gass.
Il-limitu tal-prezz milħuq flimkien mal-mekkaniżmu kollu se jwasal għall-prezzijiet tal-enerġija aktar stabbli madwar l-Ewropa, minn fejn Malta timporta l-elettriku permezz tal-interconnector.
Il-Ministru għall-Enerġija, l-Ambjent u l-Intrapriża, Miriam Dalli stqarret li dan huwa pass ‘il quddiem. “Dak li esperjenzajna madwar il-kontintent Ewropew f’dawn l-aħħar xhur wassal għal piżijiet fuq l-ekonomiji, il-familji u l-industrija tagħna. Għalhekk hemm bżonn ta’ soluzzjoni differenti għas-sitwazzjoni preżenti f’tentattiv li jonqos il-prezz tal-gass għall-elettriku. Dan il-qbil huwa pass fid-direzzjoni t-tajba u flimkien ma’ deċiżjonijiet oħra, hemm il-potenzjal li l-prezzijiet tal-enerġija jkunu kkontrollati”.
Il-gwerra kontra l-Ukranja waslet għall-prezzijiet għolja tal-enerġija, u filwaqt li jidher li dawn il-prezzijiet għolja se jkomplu fix-xhur li ġejjin, l-Unjoni Ewropea qed tipprova timplementa leġiżlazzjoni li sa ċertu punt jkunu kkontrollati dawn iż-żidiet.
“F’Malta ħadna d-deċiżjoni li nżommu l-prezzijiet tal-enerġija stabbli għall-familji u n-negozji, speċjalment meta l-maġġoranza tal-industrija tagħna huma ta’ daqs żgħir u medju. Dan ifisser li l-Gvern irid jaħdem aktar fuq livell Ewropew biex jassigura li ma jkunx hemm żidiet eċċessivi.”
Il-Ministri tal-Enerġija laħqu wkoll ftehim fuq żewġ regolamenti oħra f’każijiet ta’ emerġenza f’sitwazzjonijiet simili, waħda dwar il-permessi għas-sorsi rinnovabbli u l-oħra dwar is-solidarjetà f’każijiet ta’ kriżi.