Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1479881
TRUTH IS OF NO COLOUR WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY • 25 SEPTEMBER 2022 • ISSUE 1195 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday TONY ZAHRA Italy decides today as hard-right set for victory PAGE 10-11 Your free copy of Architecture & Design FREE INSIDE 'In nero' MATTHEW VELLA MALTESE businesses could have to "bid for compensation" to fulfil targets for a national re- duction in electricity consump- tion in winter, under a proposed regulation from the European Commission. Brussels wants to tackle the high price of energy by reduc- ing demand as it fears a shut- down of Russian gas that will leave European consumers ex- posed to a harsher winter. But its response to target the most expensive hours of elec- tricity consumption – reducing it by at least 5% during selected peak price hours – could also have a disproportionate impact on Maltese businesses accord- ing to government experts. The EC wants to push through an obligation for member states to reduce elec- tricity consumption by at least 5% during selected peak price hours. Malta will be required to identify the 10% of hours with the highest expected price, and then reduce demand during those peak hours. The period will extend from 1 December 2022 to 31 March 2023, which means the 5% consumption reduction would take place over an average of 2.5 hours a day. €1.95 Minister and Steward in meeting over hospital milestones MATTHEW VELLA THE American concessionaire Steward has told the Maltese government it will start fulfill- ing its milestones for the priva- tisation of three state hospitals, in a meeting held between CEO Armin Ernst and health minister Chris Fearne. The discussions were held following after Steward posted a pre-tax €6 million profit in 2020, despite its claim that its government contract was 'un- bankable'. The fate of the concession remains in the balance over a court case filed by the Nation- alist MP Adrian Delia demand- ing the cancellation of the contract: if the court finds in Delia's favour, it could trigger a request by Steward for a €100 million default payment from the State. PAGE 2 STEWARD Winter cuts: businesses to bid for compensation to reduce electricity PAGE 2 While government buildings will have to go dark in winter, fulfiling EU targets will require businesses to reduce consumption, against compensation for loss of productivity and business Planning? This is a 'permitting' authority INTERVIEW MT2 & ARCHITECTURE DESIGN ISSUE NO. 06 | SEPTEMBER 2022 Architecture and Design Cover issue 6 .indd 2 20/09/2022 17:03