Energy intensity of the economy

Is Malta’s economy becoming more energy-efficient?

Energy intensity is the ratio between gross inland consumption of energy and GDP at constant prices.

It is a measure of the energy used to create a unit of economic wealth, as well as the overall energy efficiency of a nation’s economy. Almost all Malta’s energy needs, including electricity generation and transportation, depend on fossil fuel imports.

In Malta’s case, net fossil fuel imports are used as a proxy for gross inland consumption of energy, since these fuel imports are consumed in Malta. Energy intensity decreased in 2011, from 200 kilograms of oil equivalent per €1,000 GDP (kgoe/€000) in 2010 to 174.5 kgoe/€1,000 in 2011. During the last decade an overall decrease in energy intensity has been recorded. Should this trend persist it may point towards a relative decoupling of energy consumption from economic activity in the longer term.

For more information see The Environment Report Indicators 2010-2011 at http://www.mepa.org.mt/teri2010-2011 .