Labour stresses need for alternative energy
The government should explain why Malta had remained so backwards in the use of solar energy when compared to other Mediterranean countries including Cyprus, Israel and Spain, the Labour Party’s spokesman for the Environment said.
Leo Brincat said that the Labour Party believed there was an urgent need for the country to promote alternative sources of energy.
A small but significant step was to increase the use of solar water heaters together and a bigger effort should be made for the country to become more efficient in the use of energy.
While the government should lead by example, there had to be coordination with all sectors on domestic, commercial and industrial levels.
Mr Brincat said his party believed the country should explore all possibilities leading to the use of cleaner energy, including wind farms and biogas, since this would reduce the country’s dependence on oil.
Any project in this direction should be considered on the basis of sustainable development in the best interest of the country.
The MLP, Mr Brincat said, also believed that Enemalta could contribute since the country needed to diversify its energy sources.
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Martin Büttner
Aug 26th 2008, 08:26
@ Henrik Piski:
You are absolutely right.
This is a general problem in Malta.
Where importers and retailers abroad work with a profit margin of 30 per cent, in Malta it is 80 to 100 per cent.
I try to bypass local importers and retailers as much as possible, and I know many people who do the same, but not everyone can do that.
D. Micallef
Aug 26th 2008, 00:55
@ Kevin Johnson
It's simple, the facade of the Labour Headquarters is nearly north facing; i.e. no direct sunlight so the glazing manages to spare the use of light during the day. On the other hand the PN headquarters is full of south facing glazing. You failed to mention this, and that shows the lack of genuinity in your post.
this is not the main issue though, but since you mentioned it I thought i'd reply.
What's worrying is that after 20 years of PN government, we are still rocking the bottom places where use of alternative energy is concerned, while central Europeans maximise the use of alternative sources such as solar energy (to which we have much more access).
And yes, the Labour Party mentioned (and not once) the issue of alternative energy before the general elections, even with the organisation of a national conference with all the stakeholders invited to the conference.
The lack of coordination between the responsible authorities is very evident. There's no interest in addressing the issue. It's really ridiculous to blame Labour on this one.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 25th 2008, 23:12
Randolph : Is it so difficult to accept that both main parties have been lacking?
I guess I had agreed to that BEFORE your last contribution...Why you decided to ask again regarding something I had agreed upon beats me.
As for C Carbonaro...well I guess if you're trying to pass on some cryptic message, you've been successful..Did' nt get itSorry, maybe my iq isn't as high as you give it credit to be...
Albiet, it does sound vaguely similar to what the zombie tune has been playing to in my regard....Strange...Lots of hidden messages...Wonder why....Are you another dancer?
Just for your benefit, I'll add the times on my Happy Xmas card list. Happy?
Ruben Abela
Aug 25th 2008, 22:51
For those who are blogging here and trying to accuse Labour of doing nothing on this may I suggest that they should take a look at both the last election and the 2003 election electoral programmes, This matter was included in both.
To be more practical, please be informed that Labour is pro-active in this - the Zejtun Labour council have installed solar pannels on the Local Council's Office and there are other Labour local concils who are investing in solar street lighting. Labour leads - others follow.
On the other hand individuals who are investing their money in alternative energy are finding problems with government agencies ironically such as MEPA and having enforcement notices being issued against them for installing solar pannels and wind turbines. I have two enforcement numbers I found from MEPA website in hand one at Fgura and another at M'Scala.
Edwin Mifsud
Aug 25th 2008, 20:44
There are hundreds of apartment owners on the Island who do not own any part of the roof but have the right of placing a water tank and a T.V. antenna.
Unless stated in the contract of sale these owners of the lower levels can be refused permission by the owner of the roof (normally the penthouse tenent) to place a solar water heater.
A law should be passed where the roof owner is obliged to allow anyone wishing to place a solar heater to do so, hence making more use of solar energy.
Henrik Piski
Aug 25th 2008, 19:59
I I contacted four different local companies just to realize that they all have nearly the same prices:
for 1kw/h eur 8000.00 excluding the government rebate of eur 1160
for 1.5 kw/h eur 12000.00 excl. rebate of eur 1740
for 2.0 kw/h eur 14000.00 excl. rebate of eur 1740
I was really surprised about the contract terms: basically it was entirely in favor of the supplier. I have to pay 50% deposit, no delivery date or installation date are specified and if the price of the PVC goes up in the meantime, I have to cover the difference.
I started doing a research in Germany. I was most surprised when I received a quotation:
for 1kw/h eur 4500.00 excluding the government rebate of eur 1160
for 1.5 kw/h eur 6500.00 excluding rebate of eur 1740
for 2.0 kw/h eur 9000.00 excluding rebate of eur 1740
Transport costs have to be added, which amount eur 160 per cubic meter of volume. The PVC are available for delivery, and shipment to Malta takes two weeks.
It is not acceptable that importers abuse of the local situation, charging high commissions and basically adding the government rebate to their revenue.
John Azzopardi
Aug 25th 2008, 19:54
The search for more efficient use of energy is a commendable one. However, the assumption or suggestion that we should turn to wind turbines to generate energy or solar panels to run industry is pie in the sky. Apart from being costly to construct and maintain. such sources of energy are not efficient. Only last week, a firm that manufactures wind turbines closed down in Scotland because the plant that produced them does not have the room and capability of making big enough windmills. The implication here is that windmills have to be enormous to be effective. And you would need whole banks of them. Therefore, reality is very different from the ideal world. Biofuel also has its downside. Solar panels may be viable for private homes, but not for large scale establishments. What we need to do is become more efficient on use of energy and eliminate pollution, both achievable targets.
C Carbonaro
Aug 25th 2008, 19:47
@ Jeremy J Camilleri
We readers are all in debit to THE TIMES, which gives us much precious space so that we can freely express ourselves, whatever is the subject. I am sure that other papers won't offer such a very good and fantastic service. THANKS THE TIMES and TIMES ON SUNDAY for your very good service. Hope that J. J. C did get the message....!!!!!!
C Carbonaro
Victoria Gozo
Randolph Bugeja
Aug 25th 2008, 19:12
@Jeremy: when it comes to alternative energy both main parties have been fast asleep!
My point was that it is rich of the MLP to criticize government now that the latter has finally started talking about exploring alternative energy. Is it so difficult to accept that both main parties have been lacking?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 25th 2008, 18:27
Randolph,
Whilst I do agree with you that the MLP could have been done a lot more regarding alternative energy, it is obvious for everyone that the party in Government carries the main responsibilty for the terrible situation that the country is in vis a vis alternative energy.
Or does the government wait fo criticism from the MLP camp before it starts to react?
We are at least 20 years behind the times in this subject...Who was responsible?
Randolph Bugeja
Aug 25th 2008, 18:05
@Jeremy J Camilleri: both parties have ignored alternative energy for a long time. Now that the PN had started to make noises about alternative power in its electoral manifesto, and has again publicly stated its intention to explore options, the MLP has woken up and is critising government - completely ignoring the fact that it too has not commented at all during these years.
If for 21 years MLP has not even voiced its plans for alternative energy I am pretty sure it would have done absolutely nothing if it was in government.
The point about bloggers wanting to blame the MLP for everything applies equally to other bloggers who will post anything in favour of the MLP no matter how ridiculous it sounds!
Kevin Johnson
Aug 25th 2008, 17:55
Why doesn't Labour set the example by replacing all the glass on their headquarter's facade with solar panels?!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 25th 2008, 17:45
It is strange how certain bloggers always try to load the Government's shortcomings on the Labour party, a party which, except for a blimp in 1996, has not been in Government for 21 years.
For example,I have read somewhere that a multi million project like Mater Dei hospital does not have one solar panel.
Is this true?
Surely, that was the major state project of the past 15 years....and yet, we can;t be bothered...
Paul Smith
Aug 25th 2008, 17:36
Malta has some real serious problems to face, more serious than transport workers striking, or the price of a loaf of bread, Malta has zero resources ZERO!
What should have been discussed during the election was, how do we feed, water and keep warm in winter almost half a million people without cheap abundant fossil fuels?
But for the career politicians it's Just BAU (business as usual) help a local developer, get handful of cash in envelope, turn up for photo opportunity's and talk a lot of hot air, as well as act like a petulant child whilst appearing on the sloppy xarabank show attacking another politician all shouting like your in a gladiatorial arena.
I will say it again, any country that only produces 25% of it's food needs and has to import fossil fuels for all it's existence is truly in trouble!
Malta, you have a very big problem, and the fix needs to start now, not when it is too late!
Martin Büttner
Aug 25th 2008, 17:14
It seems that finally MLP has woken up. Why did it take them so long to notice that something has to be done?
The enviornment or rather the energy problem could have been an issue in the electoral campaign, like it's done in other countries across Europe.
But as usual the parties were too busy to point at each other saying what the other haven't done and won't do.
The issue of alternative energy is hot and it will become even hotter.
Maltese politicians have to understand this. Those who solve the energy problems will be the kings in future!
J Vella
Aug 25th 2008, 16:55
good point Leo Brincat... in the meantime you should also explain why the labour party has taken so long to notice!