1,100 power cuts in 18 months

Malta was hit by 1,100 power cuts in the eighteen months between January 2011 and May 2012.

The figure emerged from an answer to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Labour MP Joe Mizzi. The Labour whip asked finance minister for a detailed account of the number of power cuts in the 18 month period, the hit localities and the reason for the power cuts.

The list tabled by Fenech shows that four power cuts from the 1,100 were nationwide cuts. The answer also shows that the majority of cuts occurred in the summer months when consumption tends to increase due to the soaring temperatures.

However, Fenech's answer failed to answer a number of aspects in Mizzi's question. In his question, the Labour MP also asked how many cuts were caused by works carried out by contractors, if contractors paid any penalties and whether Enemalta received any claims from private citizens for compensation.

This summer Enemalta came under increased pressure for a number of power cuts which hit the islands. The Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) has said that Enemalta's supply of electricity "left much to be desired" and had said that the business community will be assessing its losses incurred as a result of these power cuts and will issue a claim from Enemalta.

On its part, Enemalta has claimed that power cuts were the result of damages caused by contractors, the excessive summer heat and cable faults.

In the coming weeks, the new Delimara power station extension will be fully operative. The €164 million extension is now in the final testing phase while the gradual decommissioning of the old Marsa power station will also start simultaneously. The extension was originally planned to be fully operative in July.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has tabled a motion in parliament that calls for the cessation of the use of heavy fuel oil firing the Delimara power station extension's turbines.

The motion states that the use of heavy fuel oil for the Delimara extension was "unacceptable" as well as "detrimental and of serious threat" to the health of residents in the Birzebbugia, Marsaxlokk, Zejtun, Marsaskala and neighbouring localities.

The decision by Enemalta to run the Delimara extension on HFO was the subject of years of political dueling between government and Opposition. The tender was awarded to Danish firm BWSC for a diesel-engine turbine for the power station, which will have to be converted to gas in future.

Rival bidders Ido Hutney-Bateman Projeckt claimed their own combined-cycle gas turbine was cheaper than BWSC's, and filed a judicial protest. The contract raised a few eyebrows as the Opposition called for investigations amid accusations of corruption.

The Marsa power station will be switched off completely when the interconnector cable between Malta and Sicily will be fully operational. The target date for the completion of the interconnector is end of 2013.

Currently energy in Malta is produced by fuel oil (88%) and gas oil (12%).The new extension in Delimara will produce 144Mw which will take the total energy produced by the Delimara plant to 488Mw.

However, the government  is currently studying the possibility of converting the Delimara power plant to gas and is looking at either interconnecting Malta to the European Natural Gas Network or importing Liquefied Natural Gas.

Until now, Malta is the only member state among the EU27 that still depends totally on fossil fuels to produce all its electricity needs.

Malta's current renewable energy production is still at 0.4% of its gross final energy consumption, ten years ahead of its 2020 target to produce 10% of energy through alternative energy sources.

The 2009 Directive on renewable energy set individual targets for all Member States, such that the EU will reach a 20% share of total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. These targets take into account the Member States' different starting points, renewable energy potential and economic performance.

Recently, the European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Malta and three other member states, for not complying with their legal obligation to inform Brussels of their transposition of the Renewable Energy directive.

Increasing the share of renewable energy to 20% in the EU energy consumption by 2020 relies on the commitment of member states to fully implement the requirements of EU legislation.

To reach these targets, member states have to lay down rules, for example for improving the grid access for electricity from renewable energy sources, the administrative and planning procedures, information and training of installers.

Malta's dependence on oil will be partly reduced by connecting Malta to the European energy grid through an interconnector. A 200-megawatt interconnector will link Malta to Sicily and is set to be operational by 2013.

As for wind energy, the government's original plan presented in 2006 was to exclude near-shore and land-based wind farms in favour of a wind farm located in deep waters for which an international call for expression of interest was issued. But the technology for this kind of development was still at an experimental stage at the time.

After the 2008 election the government changed its policy by opting for a near shore windfarm at Sikka l-Bajda and two smaller land based farms in Hal Far and Bahrija. However, the efficiency and environmental impact of the wind farms are still being assessed.