Plans to tap EU funding for a gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily were given a boost as European leaders yesterday pledged to give “special attention” to the project due to its importance to strengthen the energy infrastructure in the region.
The commitment is significant as it could open up the possibility of doing away with the controversial liquefied natural gas tanker in Marsaxlokk, which would be permanently moored once the new gas-fired power plant is operational. The government has always argued that EU funding would be crucial for to finance a possible pipeline.
At the end of a long night of negotiations, which spilled into the early hours of Friday, the European Council also approved a proposal, tabled by the European Commission, for greenhouse emissions to be reduced by 40 per cent by 2030 when compared to 1990 levels
The gas conversion would result in the reduction of about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year
The next step will be to agree on the respective national targets, based on the gross domestic product per capita, as Malta and several other “small countries” had lobbied for.
Addressing the press at the end of the two-day summit, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Malta had successfully negotiated a clause through which the reduction in emissions from the conversion of the power station to gas would offset some of the emissions generated by vehicles and old air-conditioning systems.
He noted that the gas conversion would result in the reduction of about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Dr Muscat pointed out that Malta had been among a handful of countries specifically mentioned in the summit conclusions that would be supported to strengthen their electricity and gas link with mainland Europe. He described the outcome as “a compromise” that would give the EU a head start for next year’s global climate change conference in Paris.
In its final declaration, the summit called for the facilitation to implement the so-called “projects of common interest”, including those identified in the European Energy Security Strategy. In the case of Malta, the gas pipeline has already been included among a list of 248 key energy infrastructure projects for which the EU has allocated €5.85 billion for the period between 2014 and 2020.
The conclusion says that “special attention will be paid to the more remote and/or less well connected parts of the Single Market such as Malta, Cyprus and Greece”.
In December 2012, the government issued a call for tenders for a €1 million feasibility study, with 80 per cent of the costs funded by Brussels. Though the study has yet to be concluded, it gains added relevance in the light of the debate about the new power station.
However, Malta is also looking southwards, with the Prime Minister saying the option to link with North African coast should not be discarded.
Meanwhile, the EU has also committed itself to increase the share of renewable energy consumed to 27 per cent and improve energy efficiency by the same proportion, by 2030.
Contrary to the greenhouse emission target, the two commitments will only be binding at EU level as there will be no national thresholds to be met.
In what was a mere formality, the Council also gave its thumbs up to the new Commission headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, which will take office at the beginning of next month.