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4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 JULY 2022 4 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA MALTA will be exempted from a new EU agreement to reduce gas demand by 15%, because it is not interconnected to member states' gas networks. Malta, which is supplied LNG for its Delimara plant via a float- ing storage terminal, will be ex- empt from mandatory gas re- ductions, as well as because it remains reliant on gas for elec- tricity production. The European Union's member states have reached a political agreement on a voluntary reduc- tion of natural gas demand by 15% for the coming winter, in a bid to make savings ahead of pos- sible disruptions of gas supplies from Russia. The proposed regulation will al- low the EU to trigger an alert on security of supply, in which case the gas demand reduction would become mandatory. "The fact that we remain dis- connected from the trans-Eu- ropean gas network does not mean we are not sensitive to the challenges face by other member states," energy minister Miriam Dalli told the energy council. Malta partially relies in Italy to meet electricity demand, where prices have soared to €650 per MegaWatt-hour. "Our ultimate aim is that of protecting consumers, jobs and economies, but most importantly to shift to cleaner energy options. We're working hard to ramp up our share of renewables... reduc- ing energy demand, encouraging consumers to opt for renewa- bles, solar water heaters and heat pumps, and giving targeted fi- nance to industry to invest in en- ergy-efficient equipment, though present state aid rules limit that assistance." Dalli also said the EU should prioritise investment into renew- able projects for its sea basinsm namely floating technologies." The Czech presidency of the EU hailed the agreement as a sign of solidarity between Euro- pean states against any Russian attempt to divide the EU by us- ing energy supplies as a weap- on. "Adopting the gas reduc- tion proposal in record time has undoubtedly strengthened our common energy security. Saving gas now will improve prepared- ness. The winter will be much cheaper and easier for EU's cit- izens and industry," said Jozef Síkela, Czech minister of indus- try and trade. German's minister for the econ- omy and energy, Robert Habeck, said the EU's proposal for gas re- duction had been negatively por- trayed in the media. "Yet in five days, some form of agreement has been achieved. This shows Europe's ability to act in the face of a clear strategy from the Krem- lin... to break European solidarity with high prices." The reduction in gas demand of 15% compared to the aver- age consumption in the past five years, will be carrid out between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023, with eahc country adopting measures of their own choice. Member states were told to choose demand reduction meas- ures by prioritising measures that do not affect protected cus- tomers such as households and essential services like healthcare and defence. Possible measures include re- ducing gas consumed in the electricity sector, measures to encourage fuel switch in indus- try, national awareness raising campaigns, targeted obligations to reduce heating and cooling and market-based measures such as auctioning between companies. The regulation is an exception- al measure, foreseen for one year only so far. Europe's energy ministers ex- changed views today the initia- tives proposed by the Commis- sion in its 'Save gas for a safe winter' package. The European Commission's REPowerEU Plan seeks to send the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels and tackling the cli- mate crisis. "Putin thinks democracy is dec- adent and weak," EC vice-pres- ident Frans Timmermans said, sounding an optimistic note on the EU's joint procurement missions to North Africa and Azerbaijan. "We will prove him wrong. But apart from proving him wrong, we must create the right levels of solidarity in our en- ergy system." Malta exempted from EU gas reduction target due to absence of pipeline Malta, which is supplied LNG for its Delimara plant via a f loating storage terminal, will be exempt from mandatory European gas reductions, because it is not interconnected to member states' gas networks Energy minister Miriam Dalli with Italian minister for ecological transition Roberto Cingolani MATTHEW AGIUS A persistent ex-boyfriend has been placed under a restraining order after he admit- ted to harassing his former partner with phone calls and by going to her house, uninvited. The 44-year-old chef from St. Julians was arraigned before magistrate Rachel Montebello on Tuesday, accused of har- assment, misuse of telecommunications equipment, slightly injuring the wom- an, attacking her and uttering insults or threats towards her. Police Inspector Eman Hayman, prose- cuting, explained to the court that the ac- cused and the alleged victim had broken up in June after what was described as a minor scuffle. Contact had been broken off by both parties, but after a month, the accused had started making a "large number of phone calls to the woman. The phone calls had persisted even after the accused had been spoken to by the police, added the inspector. "He was called in for questioning. As soon as he left, he went straight to the woman's house and was captured on the doorbell camera ringing her doorbell." A guilty plea was entered by the ac- cused, which was confirmed even after the court warned that the charges could lead to a sentence of imprisonment. In his submissions on punishment, In- spector Hayman said the man had rec- ognised the error of his ways and had released a statement to this effect. The parties' residences were in the same neighbourhood, he added. The man's legal aid lawyer submitted that the accused had "told me that there were emotional reasons for his behaviour, which I explained were not an excuse." The defence suggested a probation or- der would be ideal in the circumstances. Before handing down her sentence, the magistrate warned the man that he had to recognise that his relationship with the victim was over and that he was commit- ting a criminal offence by harassing her. On his part, the accused declared that he would keep his distance from the woman and would stop phoning her. An 18-month probation order was im- posed, together with a restraining order for the same period. Restraining order, probation for chef who admitted to harassing his ex-girlfriend