PN Activist And Engineer Sounds Warning: ‘Malta Is Close To An Energy Crisis’
Malta could be close to an energy crisis, former PN Executive President and Gudja local councillor Mark Anthony Sammut, who is an engineer himself, has warned.
Asked to comment on the situation, Sammut insisted that Enemalta were still not telling the truth about the energy situation after the interconnector suffered damage and was put out of action for several weeks.
“In my view we are close to an energy crisis, brought about by lack of planning and irresponsible decisions,” Sammut told Lovin Malta. “The Enemalta press conference which tried to explain the situation has raised more questions than answers. Enemalta has tried to assure us that notwithstanding the fault in the interconnector, it still can cope with demand. If that is the case, why are we still experiencing frequent blackouts and power-cuts?”
Sammut explained that Delimara 3 (BWSC) and Delimara 4 (new LNG plant) on their own should be able to cater for 360MW of demand. Delimara 2 A and B (diesel turbines) should be able to provide another 155MW. Yet, with a peak demand in December of 390MW, Enemalta seems already unable to cope.
“To me it is apparent that the rumour that one of the three turbines of the new LNG plant is damaged and out-of-action is most probably true,” Sammut continued. “And that begs the question; was this plant properly commissioned and tested? Was there any motivation to ensure that it performs what it promised to do, apart from fattening the pockets of the very few?
Sammut warned that this crisis has also highlighted another major and irresponsible decision taken solely because of partisan animosity: the immediate closure and dismantling of Delimara 1. That plant, which could be powered by both HFO and diesel, could have provided another 120MW of electricity in moments of crises like the one we are experiencing now.
“Just because it was built by previous administrations, this government decided to dismantle it completely before the operation of the new LNG plant had stabilized, leading to the crisis we are experiencing now.”
Sammut asked whether Energy Minister Joe Mizzi can guarantee that, now that industry has kicked back into action, the island’s electricity supply will be able to cope until the interconnector is fixed.
“And can Enemalta guarantee to reimburse damages experienced both by industry and by domestic users because of the frequent power cuts? Enemalta said we are back to the pre-interconnector days. I beg to differ. We are worse off than the pre-interconnector days. We now have a higher demand than the pre-interconnector days, and because of these irresponsible decisions, we now have less capacity of supply”.
Opposition spokesperson on Energy and PN Deputy Leader David Agius blamed the power outages on the gas-fired power station, adding that the country never experienced such power cuts in the past 30 years.
Agius insisted that all details regarding these power outages should be published immediately. He also referred to allegations that were doing the rounds on social media regarding the Electrogas Power Station, which was not working properly, allegations that Enemalta has strenuously denied. Agius said that the PN would also be supporting those companies who would be claiming compensation from the government for damages.
Outgoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat defended the Electrogas project in a recent interview on ONE TV.
“Some people swallowed the propaganda hook and sinker that the problem is due to the power station or the tanker,” Muscat insisted. “Actually, the problem is that something happened to the interconnector, we’ll know exactly what the problem is by next week.”
Muscat acknowledged that there was a problem, but echoed Enemalta’s claim that if we had no gas-fired power station, we would be spending at least three weeks in the dark.
Muscat said that after the interconnector failed, the load was transferred to the Delimara power station. Here, there were normal problems (it tripped), which usually aren’t felt because the load would typically be transferred to the interconnector. However, he added that when there are problems in both the power station and the interconnector, the effects can indeed be felt.
“If it wasn’t for the power station, we’d truly be in dire straits right now,” he continued. “We were told that we don’t need a power station and some people complained that locations were left without electricity for 2-3 hours, but just imagine how it would have been without a power station? What we can be blamed for is that we didn’t explain the situation to people straight away.”
After Enemalta’s announcements, there have been a few power cuts here and there but none have been too long or widespread.