Greens say island needs sustainable energy policy

Green party Alternattiva Demokratika have called for a sustainable energy policy that can avoid a total dependence of the island on fossil fuels, saying current policies risk leading to spiralling energy prices.

AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said that Malta required a massive investment in renewable energy.

"Alternattiva Demokratika's vision is based on conservation and the careful use of resources, social justice and efficiency. A wiser use of resources such as water means that more wealth and value added will stay in the country. By giving incentives to industries that use clean energy or by making better use of limited resources, employment will increase."

Briguglio said the state should subsidise the basic consumption of energy while penalising waste.

"The state can make good for the expenditure required by progressive fiscal measures such as windfall taxes and taxes on harmful environmental practices. We strongly appeal to the government to propose massive investment in renewable energy in the upcoming budget.

"This will reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which are facing inevitable price increases due to limited supply and increasing demand."

Ralph Cassar, AD spokesperson for Energy, Transport and IT, said that Malta's energy sector had been a "victim of mismanagement and short-termism" and that successive governments failed to take advantage of low prices for oil to start investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

"Weaning an economy off total dependence on fossil fuel is a long process which this country should have started ages ago.

"Enemalta has massive debts and the old Delimara plant has not even been paid for yet. The situation is very serious and we cannot speak as if there is an easy solution to the energy crisis this country is facing.

"It is imperative that all available roof space is put to use and that measures targeted at industry award those industries who choose to invest in energy efficiency and renewables. This sector - a high value-added sector - should become an area of priority in this country's industrial policies. The engineering and technical skills of professional, scientific and technical workers will surely make Malta attractive to the new generation of industries."