Problems in way of wind farm development

Public Investments Minister Austin Gatt said yesterday that Enemalta agreed in principle on the setting up of facilities for alternative sources of energy but experts had expressed doubts on the viability of wind farms in Malta.

Replying to opposition questions on a proposed wind farm at Marfa Ridge, Dr Gatt said it was not Enemalta's responsibility to take decisions on the location of such wind farms. A wind farm on Hurd Bank (off Grand Harbour) had also been proposed once. He said that experts had expressed doubts on the viability of wind farms because, contrary to popular perception, there was not enough wind in Malta. Even in countries which had constant wind, production of energy from wind farms was found to be far more expensive than energy from fossil fuel and government subsidies were needed.

Labour MP Evarist Bartolo said the siting of a wind farm on Marfa Ridge would be detrimental to the bird sanctuary down the hill at Ghadira. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority would have to decide whether there should continue to be a bird sanctuary or a wind farm, but the two were incompatible.

Environment Minister George Pullicino said consideration of the development application was still in its initial stages and decisions would be taken on the basis of an environmental impact assessment.