Energy Minister in discussion with Cyprus on the MED9 priorities for the energy sector
Malta and Cyprus share the same commitment and determination in ensuring that work is taken forward to make sure that the Malta Statement on establishing the Mediterranean as a Green Energy Hub comes to fruition. This was the shared assurance given by Minister of Energy for Malta Miriam Dalli and the Minister of Energy for Cyprus George Papanastasiou during an International Conference on Renewable Energy that focused also on the MED9 Energy initiative.
“Malta and Cyprus share the same commitment and enthusiasm to establish the Mediterranean as a hub of green energy,” Miriam Dalli said.
“We need to ensure that this commitment continues to result in increased renewable energy commitment year after year. This will encourage us to invest further in research and development in renewable energy, especially in offshore technologies, interconnections and smart grid and storage solutions. It will also unlock the potential of more green jobs and green investment opportunities,” the Minister continued.
This direction is the result of the vision which Malta launched in the first MED9 energy ministers’ meeting last May. During this meeting in Valletta, the MED9 countries signed the Malta statement, a joint declaration for the development of renewable energy corridors in the Mediterranean as a main pillar to a climate-neutral future.
The nine countries have now established a joint steering committee including high-level and technical representatives, to focus on the acceleration of offshore renewables and interconnections between the MED9 countries and other Mediterranean regions.
“The key to all of this is making sure that we manage to unlock the financing required for such a transition, since the technology that can help us unlatch this potential is markedly more expensive than systems that can be deployed onshore or in less deep waters,” Minister Dalli added.
Meanwhile, the MED9 Energy Initiative caught the attention of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, who pledged support in making the commitments agreed to in the Valletta Joint Statement a reality.
“Investing in renewable energy is not only an effort for a better future but more importantly, it is the best solution to overcome present challenges,” stated Minister Dalli.
During the seventh International Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Conference, in Cyprus, Minister Dalli also explained Malta’s vision for a green and blue energy hub in the Mediterranean region.
Malta is working to attain its climate objectives through multiple ongoing initiatives, including the recent launch of the National Policy Framework for Offshore Renewables, new interconnections with mainland Europe, electrification, investment in more resilient electricity distribution infrastructure, utility-scale battery storage systems, the establishment of the ESG platform where companies report their energy efficiency achievements and other criteria as part of their Corporate Sustainability Reporting, as well as the recent issuance of the country’s first green bonds.
L-enerġija rinnovabbli hija ċ-ċentru tal-inizjattiva tal-enerġija tal-MED9 – Ministru Miriam Dalli
Il-Ministru tal-Enerġija f’diskussjoni ma’ Ċipru dwar il-prijoritajiet tal-MED9 għas-settur tal-enerġija
Malta u Ċipru għandhom l-istess impenn u determinazzjoni biex jiżguraw li titwettaq id-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Malta (Malta Statement) biex il-Mediterran isir ċentru t’enerġija nadifa. Din kienet l-assigurazzjoni konġunta li taw il-Ministru tal-Enerġija ta’ Malta Miriam Dalli u l-Ministru tal-Enerġija ta’ Ċipru George Papanastasiou waqt konferenza internazzjonali dwar l-enerġija rinnovabbli li ffukat ukoll fuq l-inizjattiva tal-enerġija tal-grupp ta’ pajjiżi tal-MED9.
“Malta u Ċipru jaqsmu l-istess impenn u entużjażmu sabiex jistabbilixxu l-Mediterran bħala ċentru tal-enerġija nadifa,” qalet il-Ministru.
“Irridu niżguraw li dan l-impenn ikompli jirriżulta f’aktar impenn lejn l-enerġija rinnovabbli sena wara sena. Dan se jħeġġiġna biex ninvestu aktar fir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp fl-enerġija rinnovabbli speċjalment f’teknoloġiji offshore, interkonessjonijiet ġodda, smart grids u soluzzjonijiet ta’ ħażna tal-enerġija. Dan se jsaħħaħ ukoll il-potenzjal t’aktar impjiegi fl-ekonomija l-ħadra u iżjed opportunitajiet ta’ investiment ekoloġiku,” kompliet il-Ministru Dalli.
Din id-direzzjoni hija riżultat tal-viżjoni li Malta nediet fl-ewwel laqgħa tal-Ministri tal-Enerġija tal-MED9 f’Mejju li għadda. Waqt din il-laqgħa fil-Belt Valletta, il-pajjiżi tal-MED9 iffirmaw id-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Malta, fejn qablu dwar l-iżvilupp ta’ kurituri tal-enerġija rinnovabbli fil-Mediterran bħala pilastru ewlieni fl-impenn lejn in-newtralità tal-klima.
Id-disa’ pajjiżi waqqfu kumitat tat-tmexxija konġunta biex jiffoka fuq l-aċċelerazzjoni tal-enerġija rinnovabbli offshore u l-interkonnessjonijiet bejn il-pajjiżi tal-MED9 u r-reġjuni l-oħra tal-Mediterran.
“Iċ-ċavetta għal dan kollu hija li jirnexxielna niksbu aċċess għall-finanzjament meħtieġ għal din it-transizzjoni, peress li t-teknoloġija li tista’ tgħinna niżviluppaw dan il-potenzjal hija ferm ogħla minn sistemi li jistgħu jiġu installati fuq l-art jew f’ibħra inqas fondi,” żiedet tgħid il-Ministru Dalli.
Intant, l-inizjattiva tal-enerġija MED9 ġibdet l-attenzjoni tal-Aġenzija Internazzjonali tal-Enerġija Rinnovabbli, IRENA li wiegħdet li se tagħti l-appoġġ biex l-impenji miftiehma dwarhom fid-dikjarazzjoni Konġunta tal-Belt Valletta jitwettqu.
“L-investiment fl-enerġija rinnovabbli mhuwiex biss sforz għal futur aħjar iżda aktar importanti minn hekk, huwa l-aħjar soluzzjoni biex jingħelbu l-isfidi preżenti,” tenniet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Waqt is-seba’ Konferenza Internazzjonali dwar is-Sistemi tal-Enerġija Rinnovabbli u l-Effiċjenza fl-Enerġija, f’Ċipru, il-Ministru Dalli spjegat ukoll il-viżjoni ta’ Malta għal ċentru tal-enerġija l-ħadra u l-blu fir-reġjun tal-Mediterran.
Malta qed taħdem biex tilħaq il-miri klimatiċi tagħha permezz ta’ diversi inizjattivi, inkluż it-tnedija riċenti tal-Qafas tal-Politika Nazzjonali għar-Rinnovabbli Offshore, interkonnessjonijiet ġodda mal-Ewropa, elettrifikazzjoni, investiment f’infrastruttura tad-distribuzzjoni tal-elettriku aktar reżiljenti, sistemi kbar tal-ħażna ta’ batteriji, it-twaqqif tal-pjattaforma tal-ESG fejn il-kumpaniji jirrapportaw il-kisbiet tagħhom fl-effiċjenza tal-enerġija u kriterji oħra bħala parti mir-Rappurtaġġ tas-Sostenibbiltà Korporattiva tagħhom, kif ukoll il-ħruġ riċenti tal-ewwel green bonds tal-pajjiż.