Energy supply security among requirements listed in investment attractiveness survey
A Malta Attractiveness Survey conducted among industry executives by Ernst and Young has found that Malta needs to reduce bureaucracy, reduce energy costs and improve the energy supply. It also needs to improve the roads and shipping links and offer better fiscal incentives for investment.
The survey results, announced today, found that human resources remained the biggest draw for investment to Malta, as well as euro adoption and investment support measures.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who addressed a conference in which the results were announced, said the biggest challenge which the government faced was to ensure that Malta had the necessary skills supply for the next five to 10 years, since importing labour would undermine competitiveness.
The governemnt, he said, was also focusing on energy supply security and doing all it could to keep prices in check, although that depended heavily on the international price of oil.
The environment, he said, was also a priority, including the infrastructure and better waste management, which was very important for manufacturing industry.
Dr Gonzi said one had to be careful about slashing bureaucracy. What was needed, he said, was regulation that was fast, objective, reasonable and transparent. It was anything beyond that which needed to be removed.
The survey also found that only 20 per cent of companies in Malta have installed renewable energy technologies on their premises, whereas 72 per cent have installed energy-efficient equipment. The decision was based on costs.
The international recession was found to have affected 82 per cent of companies surveyed.
The conference was introduced by Ernst and Young managing partner Mario Galea.
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S. Calascione
Jul 15th 2010, 13:27
Since energy supply security is a function of capacity (or more precisely incapacity, thanks to the increased frequency of unexpected surges in demand), grid-connected solar power "rooftop parks" would seem to provide a quick and relatively easy way of meeting EU mandated renewable energy targets (10 per cent by 2010).
Advantageous feeder tariffs aimed at attracting medium or large scale projects would lower dependence on imported fuel oils and help create employment (1 job per 80kW of thermal energy produced, according to some estimates).
In Cyprus, over 485,000 kW are generated by photovoltaics, supporting over 6,000 jobs. In Malta, the output of this sector is well under 10 per cent of the Cyprus figure.
Offshore wind could also be looked at (but as a secondary measure since it is likely to be a less reliable source of renewable energy in the medium term, due to changing wind conditions (as a result of global warming).
p.mallia
Jul 15th 2010, 11:10
And what about the possibility of renewing the Solar Panel Scheme which was due to be availed of and has now been shelved (at least for the time being) due to some person embezzling the matter to his satisfaction.
I hope that this Scheme is re-issued quickly as many are those who have their money tied up in deposits with suppliers of PV systems and they (suppliers) cannot do anything else but wait for the Government to decide.
Also, why doesn't Government decide to build a solar assisted power station here on the island? This will surely prove better than having to connect with other suppliers and beg their mercy for price, supply and conditions. On the other hand, with such a system, we will surely be able to supply to others instead of vice-versa. This will surely pay for itself, and hopefully alleviate our bills.
I think there is only one problem, though, and every one knows what it is! I have been trying to make contact with whoever may be interested in promoting such a system to no avail. I hope that someone takes heed of this and comes back with some sensible solution to solve the problem.
H Galea
Jul 14th 2010, 14:41
Dr Gonzi, nice to hear your voice, please what offers are being given to SME investing in Solar, such as,small projects to light the shop windows. Can Solar Panels be fixed on the out side buildings of shops.
T. Gatt
Jul 14th 2010, 16:47
@ H. Galea
Do you need the Gov. to help you light your shop windows? Do you need my taxes to encourage you and your fellow business people switch to solar? OMG. Impressive entrepreneurship sprit indeed!
Paul Smith
Jul 14th 2010, 14:29
when the truth finally comes out, which it is slowly - there will be a lot of angry people.
Paul Smith
Jul 14th 2010, 14:28
Any economy that relies entirly on oil for everything (water, sewage system, electricity, food production, importation of food, transport) is clearly going to hurt a lot in the next few years, in fact it is not only going to hurt, it is going to fall apart. Any complex society that has all it's eggs in the oil basket is going to suffer big time.
Oil is a once in a lifetime geological gift and we have managed to squander half of it in less than 100 years, so much so, that our global population explosion mirrors it's discovery and extraction - our increased wealth and technology and living standards we enjoy have only been made possible because of cheap abundant oil and Gas. The problem's dont begin when the glass is empty but when the glass is half full. Any meaningful economic growth can not take place without cheap oil and Gas imports.
The world is about to lose 3 large petro states as they have become net oil exporters UK, Kuwait, Mexico - oil new mega projects are puddles compared to these 3 and they wont make up for decline rates - cont: