Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1327039
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 JANUARY 2021 OPINION The gas pipeline saga A few days ago we had news of the long-known conclusion from the European Commis- sion that there will not be any EU funds for the Maltese gov- ernment's gas pipeline project. Before any bright spark comes up with nationalist and jingois- tic arguments, that 'we are be- ing picked on' by the 'bullies' in Brussels, the EU will not be financing any fossil fuel based energy projects anywhere, whether coal, oil or natural gas. This final decision came about after the usual process lead- ing to the approval of the EU's budget, involving the Commis- sion, national governments and the European Parliament. Frankly, the EU's refusal re- flects badly on the Maltese government. The outcome of the EU's energy policy and fi- nancing priorities is there for all to see. The EU and its mem- ber states' international com- mitments mean that massive investments in fossil fuel-based energy projects are no longer acceptable. Natural gas was considered a 'transition fuel' in the process of converting to renewable en- ergy sources, since it is cleaner than oil when it comes to the emission of climate-altering gases such as carbon dioxide. But that was some twenty years ago. The ship has now sailed. It is no longer acceptable to be locked into another twenty years of using fossil fuels as our main source of energy. The story of energy policy in Malta is one of incompetence, mismanagement, of allega- tions of graft, corruption and of smoking guns. It is a story of the infamous 'oil scandal' and of changes in laws to favour the oil agents' lobby during the Na- tionalist's governments' reign. It is the story of Konrad Mizzi's and Keith Schembri's 'brilliant' idea to tie Malta for decades to an agreement with corrupt Azerbaijan, favour- ing the usual Maltese business families. Of course, both these Labour stars set up offshore trusts and structures to receive €5,000 a day in graft money. Jo- seph Muscat, allegedly, didn't know anything of this stitch- up. Back to the gas pipeline. Back in 1999, a Nationalist govern- ment turn down the Italian ENI offer for the construction of a natural gas pipeline, choosing instead the insane investment in dirty, climate-destroying heavy fuel oil. Creating tonnes of waste in the process and in- creasing Malta's carbon emis- sions. The Nationalists certainly kept some people happy, and these people probably kept the PN party machine well-oiled at the time. The switch to gas should have happened in 1999. Today they fail to remind us of their disastrous anti-envi- ronmental policies – from their fossil-fuel thirsty energy poli- cies to their policy of declaring two million square metres of previously 'outside develop- ment zone' as developable, to the joy of the usual suspects. Incompetent hypocrites. Fast forward to 2014 when Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri and the likes of former Ene- malta chief, now Infrastructure Malta chief, Frederick Azzo- pardi chose Azerbaijan as Mal- ta's energy partner, in a deal that stinks to high heavens. The pipeline project, was yet again abandoned. We all know who benefitted most from this: people who Labour used to de- fine as 'barunijiet'. The 'barons' won once again. After all this incompetence, Robert Abela's government still thought they could forge ahead with their now obsolete gas pipeline pro- ject. New energy minister Miriam Dalli has recently announced that any pipeline must be 'hy- drogen ready'. Her statement just confirms the incompe- tence of her own government. They had to wait for a refusal to smell the coffee. While they roll out the rhet- oric about climate change, it is really and truly business as usual. They continue encouraging vehicle use, grab land from farmers for their crazy road ex- pansion projects, again favour- ing the usual 'barunijiet', as the Mriehel case clearly shows, and continue the now traditional and historic PLPN pandering to land speculators. When it comes to renewable energy, Malta is as usual, late. In the energy sector govern- ment needs to invest heavily in community-based micro-re- newable energy projects, from micro-wind turbines to solar energy. Larger energy projects such as wave energy and offshore wind are also required. Reducing the overall use of energy is also crucial. There must be a real shift in taxation and industri- al policy – both incentives and disincentives. Polluters must pay, with pro- ceeds going towards the now urgent transition to a cleaner, greener economy, based on en- ergy efficiency and renewable energy. Labour intensive, greener businesses should be rewarded. It is high time that the fossil fu- el industry and its Maltese 'bar- ons' are defeated. The story of energy policy in Malta is one of incompetence, mismanagement, of allegations of graft, corruption and of smoking guns. It is a story of the infamous 'oil scandal' and of changes in laws to favour the oil agents' lobby during the Nationalist's governments' reign Ralph Cassar is secretary-general ADPD ralph.cassar@adpd.mt Ralph Cassar