The European Commission has announced that Malta has not been making any tangible progress to reach binding renewable energy targets by 2020. This is a real indictment for the government. Even EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger addressed Malta, asking it to increase the investment in renewable energy.

There are indeed several projects planned, wind farms both onshore and offshore. A possible wind park of 20 turbines off Mellieħa could produce about 10 per cent of Malta’s electricity with a €300 million investment. But these are just studies, proposals, plans and statements of intent. So far, no single wind turbine has been ordered, no square metre of land has been allocated officially and no practical investment plan has been published. Both the government and opposition keep silent on this issue.

Energy consumption is still increasing heavily and measures to save energy are so far just a drop in the bucket. If the target for 2020 remains at 10 per cent, further energy projects will be needed to compensate for the higher consumption. Now is the time to act! Many studies have been worked out over the past years. Now they have to lead to concrete projects.

Malta has the potential to reach a much higher percentage of “green” electricity and overtake even Austria (69.3 per cent), Sweden (55 per cent), Latvia (44.7 per cent), Portugal (41.4 per cent) and Denmark (34.3 per cent). Big countries are also making good progress with Italy reaching 19 per cent, Germany 17.4 per cent, France 15.4 per cent and the UK 8.6 per cent.

But Malta, with just 0.6 per cent, stands at the bottom of the table.