Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/653685
8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2016 News IN ALL LEADING BOOK SHOPS HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN MALTA 1,224 cases of electricity theft concluded in two years Enemalta on the lookout for potential new smart meters tampering systems MIRIAM DALLI ENEMALTA concluded a total of 1,224 cases of electricity theft in 24 months, according to the executive chairman of Enemalta, Ing. Fre- drick Azzopardi. The figure includes cases which had been left pending for years. Customers caught stealing electric- ity signed agreements to pay for the electricity as well as penalties and interests. In several cases, however, cus- tomers were not as forthcoming with making amends with their ir- regularities, prompting Enemalta to report some 100 cases to the police. Some of these cases, after appearing in court, were settled after consumers agreed to sign the agreement and the applicable fines. "Enemalta's ongoing commit- ment to restrain electricity theft and other related irregularities has paid off as it decreased these non- technical losses to a new low, po- tentially saving up to €30 million," Azzopardi said. During 2014 and 2015, Enemalta employees identified and stopped over 760 cases of electricity theft, an increase of 25% over the previ- ous four years put together. Six workers remain suspended until court proceedings against them are concluded. Annual non-technical losses in 2012 and 2013 stood at 6.7% and 6% of all electricity distributed to customers during these two years respectively. At the end of 2015, annual non-technical losses were down to 2.85%. This level is lower than the EU's latest available aver- age non-technical losses figure of 3.9%. "The sharp decrease in electric- ity theft and other non-technical losses during these last two years can help Enemalta save up to €30 million," Azzopardi said. A total of 1,514 inspections were carried out during 2015, up from some 800 the previous year. Last year, the company increased the number of technicians and in- spectors dedicated to electricity theft reduction. These workers use specialised equipment to detect different types of irregularities. In addition, new anti-theft technolo- gies were introduced to the elec- tricity distribution infrastructure. Other engineers are assigned to the ongoing monitoring and analy- sis of electricity consumption pat- terns, to detect potential abuse. Azzopardi explained that En- emalta was always on the lookout for any new tampering systems that may emerge on the market. "We cannot ignore that there will always be someone who will encourage customers to steal elec- tricity," he said, adding that there are at least three theft systems that Enemalta is aware of. Enemalta is now also assisting electricity companies in other EU states in their efforts to restrain electricity supply irregularities. In 2014, the government took a decision to drastically increase electricity theft fines from 10% to up to 200% of the value of the elec- tricity stolen. This, Azzopardi said, was an effective deterrent. The rollout of smart meters has reached 93% completion, with 80% being reachable – i.e. sending real- time information that helps ARMS Ltd issue bills with actual reading as opposed to estimates. Azzopardi went on to add that the reduction in non-technical losses was part of a greater transforma- tion process to secure the long- term financial sustainability of En- emalta plc and the Maltese energy sector. MEPA rejects Ghar Lapsi platform JAMES DEBONO THE Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Planning Directorate has rejected plans by Carmen's Bar in Ghar Lapsi to cover a large cavity created by wave action on the Ghar Lapsi shoreline with a removable timber and steel platform to be erected in the summer months. The platform was being pro- posed by the bar owners to cre- ate a 65 square metre tables- and-chairs area on public land at well-liked Ghar Lapsi cove. The application, which was entirely rejected, also foresaw the change of use of the existing establishment, where no cook- ing is allowed, to a full blown restaurant and the sanctioning of works, which included dig- ging into the rockface near the bar. Board members Charles Grech and Mariello Spiteri objected to the change of use to allow cook- ing on the site as this would lead to the intensification of activity in the area. According to the case officer, part of the area (25 square me- tres) has already been covered by a concrete platform: the case officer has insisted that this would amount to the "covering of a public open space" and take up part of a public beach. The case officer had deemed acceptable plans for the change of use of the existing establish- ment to a full blown restaurant and the sanctioning of works. "The sanctioning of the inter- ventions in the rocks is not ac- ceptable. It is dubious whether the extent of the development in the rocks is covered by the nec- essary permits," the EPD said. The EPD also expressed doubts on whether the bar itself is cov- ered by a permit. The establishment operates legally through a police permit dating back to 1989, under a trading licence which was is- sued in 2015. An enforcement order issued in 1999 against un- authorised digging in the rocks was "withdrawn" a year later. A year later a permit for an un- derground cesspit was approved despite a case officer report ob- jecting to it. The establishment is described as a "shop" in the application for a cesspit. Joseph Muscat and David Cameron talks dominated by Brexit, migration THE fate of the United King- dom within the European Union dominated bilateral talks between prime ministers Joseph Muscat and David Cameron. The UK is due to vote on whether the country will remain in the EU or not in June. Muscat said that Europe needs to find a balance between states that favour a federalist approach and those that favour a closer Europe. "For economic and political rea- sons, the EU and the UK need one another," he said. Once an agreement had been reached with the EU, he added, the decision on whether to remain an EU member was a sovereign right of the British people. The situation in Libya was also discussed, with Cameron stating that the priority at this time is to ensure political action against ter- rorism, as well as the rebuilding of the nation's economic structures. Muscat reiterated the importance of seeking regional stability, which also ties in with the issue of migra- tion in the Mediterranean. This week's European summit in Brussels was also a point of discus- sion, with migration and the role of Turkey in handling refugees spawned by the crisis in Syria of most concern. Both the UK and Malta agreed that while the EU should support Turkey and the ref- ugees it currently shelters, it would be unwise to assume that traffick- ing would not take place through other means. The bar owners wanted to erect a platform to cover a hole created by the elements and create space for their clients Joseph Muscat called for balance within the EU as David Cameron (right) emphasised the importance of fighting terrorism in Libya