At the bottom

GonziPN claims that all the country’s woes are due to the International scenario and to the Opposition’s actions. According to the government, Malta is in a recession only statistically not realistically. The PN normally lives on statistics and the Prime Minister often says that figures speak for themselves. Actually they do, but GonziPN does not want to understand the statistics that Dr. Gonzi is so proud of.

The statistics regarding alternative energy are but one instance. The official EU statistical arm, EUROSTAT has published data that clearly shows that our government is lagging far behind other EU states. PL spokesman for the Environment, Mr. Leo Brincat, recently quoted figures showing that Malta occupies the last place in the table depicting the EU 27 states. Malta’s contribution in this sector is so low, that the penultimate placed state produces seven times more renewable energy than our country. Luxembourg produces 2.8% of its requirements and Malta’s production is as low as 0.4%, Mr. Brincat said.

The government has not tackled the problem seriously. It is more intent on finishing new projects in time for the next election. It is also being kept busy trying to cover up the internal strife within the PN’s ranks. 

Unfortunately, GonziPN has not catered for renewable energy. A new government would have to put this issue at the top of its agenda, since Malta has committed itself to generating as much as 10% of its requirements through renewable energy by 2020. This is only a few years away and Malta faces stiff penalties if it does not conform to this directive.

The Labour spokesman also spoke about the delays in developing solar energy and wind energy. Research and development on these two forms of renewable energy had been side-tracked and Malta is already two years off-track on the study of these methods for renewable energy. The ‘waste to energy’ programme is well behind schedule and it is contributing very little compared to the levels targeted. The newer members of the EU have by far surpassed our performance. Some of the newer EU states that were regarded as emerging countries some time ago, have overtaken Malta in the development of these resources. The strategy of GonziPN has again let our country down.

Malta is once again the loser in this sector. Dr. Gonzi and indeed, the major part of GonziPN, have one objective that supersedes all others – that of clinging to power at all costs. The government has neglected this sector and Malta has ended up by being the only state that depends almost entirely on oil imports as our source of energy.