English Version :
As Brussels prepares for difficult times ahead, European energy ministers discuss security of supply and price spike caused by Russia-Ukraine War
Malta’s energy minister Miriam Dalli urges European Commission not to leave any country alone
The European Union’s energy ministers convened in Brussels for an urgent Energy Council to discuss the energy situation in the context of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the impact on the energy sector.
The ministers discussed the EU’s level of preparedness in the event of a supply crisis, the solidarity measures and availability of instruments at EU level should the need arise.
Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli called on the European Commission to ensure security of supply to all. She insisted that this should be done in particular for islands not connected with the European grid. Minister Dalli urged that when the provision of electricity is at danger, solidarity should be shown with everyone without any distinction.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is having a direct impact on energy supplies and prices.
Kadri Simson, the bloc’s Energy Commissioner, said the continent’s gas storage is currently at 32%.
Minister Miriam Dalli explained that Malta was being adversely affected by high wholesale electricity prices, that are being imported from Italy. The minister stated that, in view of the situation in the international sphere, it was now more important than ever that all member states are connected to the European grid for their electricity provision, including gas supplies, and eventually hydrogen.
“Malta’s geography makes the energy impacts more pronounced and challenging to address. The energy market disruptions are affecting freight costs, thereby leading to higher prices and inflationary pressures. Exacerbating the issue further is the lack of choice of transport modes for Malta’s businesses, where all raw materials have to be imported”, said Minister Dalli.
Malta supports a coordinated approach in these particular circumstances, however, member states should be allowed a degree of flexibility to act in a manner that best addresses their particular needs.
The minister also highlighted the importance of scaling up investments in renewable energies and strongly urged the European Commission to channel funding to offshore renewable technology, particularly in the Mediterranean and hydrogen-ready infrastructures.
Maltese Version :
Il-Ministri tal-Enerġija Ewropej jiddiskutu s-sigurtà tal-provvista u ż-żieda fil-prezzijiet tal-enerġija kawża tal-Gwerra Russja-Ukrajna
Il-Ministru għall-Enerġija Miriam Dalli tappella lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea biex ma tħalli lill-ebda pajjiż maqtugħ waħdu
Il-Ministri tal-Enerġija tal-Unjoni Ewropea ltaqgħu fi Brussell għal-laqgħa urġenti tal-Kunsill tal-Enerġija, biex jiddiskutu l-gwerra li għaddejja bejn ir-Russja u l-Ukrajna u l-impatt fuq is-settur tal-enerġija.
Il-Ministri ddiskutew il-livell ta’ tħejjija tal-Unjoni Ewropea f’każ ta’ kriżi tal-provvista, il-miżuri ta’ solidarjetà u d-disponibbiltà tal-istrumenti fil-livell tal-Unjoni jekk ikun hemm bżonn.
Miriam Dalli, il-Ministru għall-Enerġija, appellat lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea biex tiżgura s-sigurtà tal-provvista lil kulħadd. Insistiet li dan għandu jsir b’mod partikolari fil-każ ta’ gżejjer li mhumiex magħquda mal-grid Ewropew. Sostniet li f’każijiet fejn ikun hemm periklu għal provvista tal-elettriku, is-solidarjetà għandha tiskatta għal kulħadd bla distinzjoni.
Il-gwerra li għaddejja bejn ir-Russja u l-Ukrajna qed ikollha impatt dirett fuq il-provvisti u l-prezzijiet tal- enerġija.
Kadri Simson, il-Kummissarju Ewropew għall-Enerġija, qalet li l-ħażna tal-gass tal-kontinent bħalissa hija ta’ 32%.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli spjegat kif Malta qed tiġi affettwata mill-prezz wholesale tal-elettriku, li qed jiġi importat mill-Italja. Il-Ministru stqarret li, fid-dawl tas-sitwazzjoni internazzjonali, issa aktar minn qatt qabel, hu importanti li l-istati membri kollha jkunu magħquda mal-grid Ewropew għall-provvisti tal-enerġija tagħhom, inkluż il-gass u eventwalment l-idroġenu.
“Fil-każ ta’ Malta, l-impatti tal-enerġija huma aktar evidenti u ta’ sfida biex jiġu indirizzati minħabba li aħna gżira. It-tfixkil fis-suq tal-enerġija qed jaffettwa l-ispejjeż tal-merkanzija, u b’hekk iwassal għal prezzijiet ogħla u pressjonijiet inflazzjonarji. Il-kwistjoni tkompli tiggrava n-nuqqas ta’ għażla ta’ modi differenti ta’ trasport għan-negozji ta’ Malta, fejn il-materja prima kollha trid tiġi importata,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Malta tappoġġja azzjoni kkordinata f’dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi partikolari. Madankollu, l-istati membri għandhom jingħataw livell ta’ flessibbiltà biex jaġixxu b’mod li jindirizzaw l-aħjar il-ħtiġijiet partikolari tagħhom.
Ministru enfasizzat ukoll l-importanza li jiżdiedu l-investimenti fl-enerġiji rinnovabbli u ħeġġet bil-qawwa lill- Kummissjoni Ewropea biex tgħaddi l-fondi lejn teknoloġija rinnovabbli offshore, partikolarmnet fil-Mediterran, u infrastrutturi li jkunu lesti għall-idroġenu.