Energy intensity of the economy

Is Malta’s economy becoming more energy-efficient?

Energy intensity is the ratio between total energy produced and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is therefore a measure of the energy used to create a unit of economic wealth, measured in GDP.

Net fossil fuel import values may be used as an estimate of total energy produced in Malta. Indeed almost all energy is generated from imported fossil fuels, whether this is in power plants, motor vehicle engines, or other combustion processes (amounts used refer to gross inland fuel consumption net of aviation and bunkering).

This indicator shows that energy intensity continued to decline over the last year, decreasing from 0.21 tonnes of oil equivalent per unit GDP (toe/€) in 2008 to 0.19 toe/€ in 2009, in most part reflecting the fall in fuels imported.

When the overall trend over the last 10 years is considered, it emerges that there has been an overall slight decrease in energy intensity over this period. Should this trend continue it may point towards a relative decoupling of energy consumption from economic activity in the longer term.