Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541426
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 NOVEMBER 2025 OPINION ELECTRICITY and water don't just keep our homes running—they keep our economy alive. Behind every new business, every digital service, every factory line, and every hospital bed lies one fundamental truth: Without stable and affordable utilities, growth comes to a halt. For a small island like Malta, with limited natural resources and high exposure to global shocks, ensuring reliable utilities is not just good governance—it is national sur- vival. That is why sustained investment in our utility infrastructure has be- come one of Malta's most important priorities. Strong utilities mean more than just fewer power cuts and clean water on tap. They mean attracting foreign investors who depend on re- liable systems, shielding households from price shocks, and preparing our country for the realities of climate change. In recent years, Malta has made record investments in electricity infrastructure. In the 2024 budget alone, €188 million was allocated to reinforce our energy system and ac- celerate the green transition. New substations, upgraded distribution centres, and modern cabling across the islands are making the grid more resilient and future-proof. At the same time, €133 million has been channelled into renewable en- ergy and energy efficiency. Offshore projects, solar panels, water heaters, and heat pumps are giving house- holds and businesses the chance to embrace cleaner energy. Work on the second Malta–Italy interconnec- tor is also underway—an investment that will secure our energy future for decades. These projects have been matched by policies that protect people from global price shocks. While other countries saw bills skyrocket, subsi- dies kept Maltese families and busi- nesses shielded. For many house- holds, this stability meant being able to plan their budgets with confidence. For small businesses it meant keeping prices competitive and jobs secure, even as costs soared elsewhere in Eu- rope. The story of water is just as im- portant. The Water Services Cor- poration has embarked on a €310 million modernisation programme running until 2033. Already, Malta has recorded its highest water pro- duction in 20 years, while leakage has dropped significantly. Farmers, in particular, are seeing the benefits of greater access to 'new water', giving them more security during dry sum- mers and reducing dependence on costly alternatives. Momentum has also been boost- ed by European partnerships. This year, the European Investment Bank approved a €260 million financing package to support energy efficien- cy, water management, and environ- mental projects. Such collaboration underscores the confidence Europe- an institutions have in Malta's long- term strategy. Malta enjoys reliable access to elec- tricity and water, and crucially, at sta- ble costs. These achievements are not accidental. They are the product of foresight, planning, and political will. Of course, the challenges ahead re- main steep. Demand will continue to rise. Climate pressures will intensify. And technology will reshape how we produce and consume energy. But Malta is better prepared than ever before, thanks to the sustained investment of recent years. Utili- ty infrastructure is more than pipes and cables—it is the backbone of our economy and the lifeline of our peo- ple. When we invest in it, we are not just powering homes and businesses. We are powering Malta's future. Not long ago, families and busi- nesses faced frequent outages and rising bills that strained household budgets and undermined competi- tiveness. Today, investment has re- placed neglect, stability has replaced uncertainty. The choice is whether to keep building on that progress or risk sliding back into a past Malta cannot afford to revisit. Rodrick Zerafa Powering Malta's future: Why utilities are the backbone of progress Opinionist Of course, the challenges ahead remain steep. Demand will continue to rise. Climate pressures will intensify Maltese artist unveils new exhibition at Teatru Salesjan MALTESE painter Nickie Sultana will launch a solo exhibition titled Valletta Ab- stracted at Teatru Salesjan, running from November 2025 through January 2026. The new collection draws on repeated observations of the Valletta skyline. Sultana described returning "again and again, to the same view, as if it were a refrain in a song I can't stop humming." She described the skyline as a "golden, fractured by light, softened by haze, or blazing with sunset fire" as seen from boat trips enter- ing the harbour. Rather than pursuing pho- tographic accuracy, Sultana goes for abstract and varia- tion to explore perception and memory. "The repeti- tion becomes a meditation on perception, memory, and time: a dialogue between constancy and change," she writes. Born in 1973, Sultana studied both classical and contemporary art at the Lorenzo de Medici and Leonardo da Vinci acade- mies in Florence. She has held ten solo exhibitions since 1995 and participated in multiple group shows in Malta and abroad. Her work is represented in private collections internationally and noted in the Interna- tional Dictionary of Artists Who Painted Malta. The exhibition Valletta Abstracted by artist Nickie Sultana will be held at Tea- tru Salesjan in Sliema, run- ning from November 2025 to January 2026. Openning hours are Monday to Satur- day from 9am to 3pm and Sunday from 9am to 1pm. Maltese painter Nickie Sultana will launch a solo exhibition titled Valletta Abstracted at Teatru Salesjan, running from November 2025 through January 2026