In a press conference in front of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Enterprise, ADPD-The Green Party presented its proposals on the ongoing energy problem, which led to a protest being called on 27 July at 7pm near Parliament.

ADPD - The Green Party's Chairperson Sandra Gauci analysed the current issue at hand across Malta and Gozo. "It is evident that the country is on its knees due to continuous power cuts. This means a huge burden on families and businesses. Everyone is affected, but the most affected are the vulnerable who are already crushed by inflation and wages that do not meet their basic needs."

"Instead of costly massive projects and an economic policy based on overdevelopment and speculation, which led to an overburdened and inadequate infrastructure, we demand a wellbeing economy. Corruption in the energy sector has led to expenditure on a power station and abandonment of the electricity distribution network."

"When it comes to the power cuts, the issue is that we use more energy when it's hot. There has been an increase of footprint in a plot, from one household to 20 flats due to laissez-faire planning rules. In simple terms, this means you might have twenty times more current being supplied from the same infrastructure - cables - that were used for much less before. In the wider picture, it is the addition of thousands of flats on land that has been available since the 2006 plans that is a contributing factor to the power cuts."

"The government's economic policy currently seeks to gain as much as possible from the most vulnerable in society, including the added workers required to keep up with the demand for unbridled development. The government was happy to have cheap labour, but did not plan to adequately meet everyone's needs."

"Finally, on a wider scale, we are feeling the effects of climate change. We are in a climate crisis. One government after another has failed to prepare for the effects of this crisis. There are no excuses, the Labour Government have had ten years to act, and instead they have simply ignored the crisis at hand to focus on their own economic gains."

ADPD - The Green Party PRO Brian Decelis laid out the concrete proposals of the party in the energy sector and related areas. He said that as a Green Party we "recognise that everything is connected to each other, and impact on one another."

"The actions he spoke about are: 1. Malta needs a smart grid, a stronger electricity distribution system will help to make the leap to renewable energy better; 2. A moratorium on big developments - the construction industry needs to be redimensioned to focus on the modernisation and renovation of buildings, not new builds; 3. Renovated buildings need to be zero-carbon, this means they generate all the energy that they need - in time all buildings in Malta need to be modernized to become zero-carbon buildings; 4. Make energy cooperatives a part of the energy plan - these cooperatives will provide for decentralised electricity sources from renewable energy; 5. Reverse the 2006 rationalisation plan - We need to hasten our pace towards zero-carbon communities and revise the local plans to meet sustainability and zero-carbon targets; 6. Make research on renewable energy and zero carbon a national priority - this is in view of the climate crisis; 7. Stop investing in fossil fuel infrastructure - this on both a national and EU level and includes stopping the gas pipeline project and investing in sustainable alternatives; 8. Oblige industries to move towards zero carbon operations; 9. Lead by example - Public buildings need to be modernised, zero-carbon, by generating all the electricity they need; 10 - Shift Malta to a wellbeing economy, one that is not based on the excessive use of natural resources, the exploitation of people, and dependence on imported energy," the party said.

ADPD Deputy Chairperson Mina Jack Tolu encouraged the public and all those impacted by the power cuts to sign the a petition with ADPD's 10 concrete actions which will be delivered to Minister Miriam Dalli.

Tolu said that ADPD expresses its solidarity with the Enemalta workers who have become the target and victims of a situation that has come about due to the carelessness of Ministers and the Government.

Tolu concluded by appealing to everyone to join with ADPD - The Green Party in the protest against corruption, incompetence and carelessness on Thursday 27th July at 7pm in front of the Parliament in Valletta, and to sign the petition for action on energy, climate change and wellbeing economies.

Protest: https://www.facebook.com/events/306346631768510

Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/10-action-points-for-improved-energy-policy-in-malta