Malta has the lowest share of renewable energy in Europe, with only 10.7% of its energy coming from renewable sources, well below the EU average of 45%, according to recent Eurostat statistics.

PN MP Alex Borg has called for urgent investment in renewables, arguing that the country is missing an opportunity to build a new, sustainable economic sector that could create high-quality jobs while benefiting the environment.

“This is an opportunity to create a niche economy that not only generates new, quality jobs but also benefits the environment,” Borg said.

He highlighted how other European countries have made significant strides in renewable energy, while Malta continues to lag behind. Offshore energy solutions, he pointed out, were once considered impractical or too expensive, but today they have become common. He stressed that Malta should take this development seriously.

“We need serious investment to make this happen,” Borg said. “Subsidising electricity bills is fine, but in the long run, these subsidies aren’t eternal. When oil prices were low, the government should have planned for the future, because ultimately, these subsidies are just lining the pockets of foreign oil producers.”

Borg believes that Gozo, in particular, could serve as a test case for renewable energy, suggesting that at least half of its energy consumption could come from renewables within a short timeframe.

However, achieving this goal requires both financial investment and an educational shift to ensure Malta produces the engineers and technicians needed to support the transition.

“We need the political will to make this our future,” Borg added. “Renewable energy must become a national priority so that we can create a self-sustaining, circular economy that works in our favour.”