The recent power outage has highlighted the problems regarding the way Enemalta operates. It is an acknowledged fact that the two power stations operate quite inefficiently but, to add insult to injury, we have now had to endure a power outage that lasted for a long period of time and which meant millions of Euro damage to our economy, not to mention, of course, the disruption of the daily lives of citizens. Reducing Malta to the level of a Third World country is simply disgraceful in 2009.
Everywhere I go, I listen to people livid at the inefficiency of this Nationalist Government and at the audacity of some high-placed officials, nothing better than lackeys in my opinion, who try to present such occurrences to the general public as nothing to be really worried about.
"These things happen everywhere", they state. What they do not state is that it is in their personal interest to defend the Government even when the situation is indefensible. As in other sectors of the administration of this country, Lawrence Gonzi continues to demonstrate the emptiness of the slogan "par idejn sodi".
Delimara power station extension
It is inexcusable that certain decisions are taken by the PN Government which can negatively affect the health of Maltese citizens. The contract of the Delimara Power Station extension entails operating it on heavy fuel oil and will mean generating a large amount of waste. All this will be detrimental not only to the health of the workers at the plant but also to the people of the South of the island living in the vicinity of the Power Station. I would like to ask one simple question : "Is it not immoral to have the Nationalist Government decide in a manner which will harm the environment, including the human one?"
No economic rationale, no financial excuses will ever justify anything that can have even a remote negative effect on the health of the people. The health and well-being of citizens come first. What the Lawrence Gonzi administration is doing is to economize at a very heavy social cost, i.e. exposing citizens to dangers that can easily be avoided. I do hope that all Maltese realize how serious and condemnable is this action of the PN Government.
Alternative Energy
On a positive note, the distribution by the PN Government of energy-saving bulbs which is getting belatedly underway is something that should be praised. I am also in favour of educational campaigns on eliminating, as far as possible, energy wastage. Meanwhile, the Government should do its utmost to explore ways of introducing alternative and renewable energy into all aspects of life in Malta. Remember that Malta is committed to the European Union to produce 10 % of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
What worries me is the fact that there is still a certain amount of controversy about the viability of Wind Farms at Hal Far, Wied Rini and Is-Sikka l-Bajda. This is an area that needs to be further explored because a recent European Environmental Agency study has shown that Malta's demand for electricity can be fully met and exceeded when using wind energy.