Malta misses second energy report deadline

Malta has missed its second deadline to submit a report forecasting its 2020 renewable energy targets, making it one of just four member states to skip the target date of January 31.

“Since the middle of last month, the number of member states that had the report still outstanding was reduced from 12 to four. Unfortunately, the information from Malta, Italy, Greece and the UK has still not reached Brussels,” a European Commission official said.

“We are examining the possibility of starting infringement procedures against the four countries over the issue if their reports are not sent in the coming days,” the official said.

According to the Renewables Directive, member states originally had until the end of 2009 to send their Energy Forecasts documents indicating their estimated demand for energy from renewable sources until 2020.

After submitting this document, member states are obliged to provide the Commission with a more detailed document, called the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, outlining the concrete measures they will take to meet their individual national targets. The deadline for submission of this plan is the end of June.

A few weeks ago, a government spokesman had admitted Malta was late in compiling this report adding that work was still in progress and that the island “should be in a position to submit its report by the end of January”.

Hans Van Steen, from the Commission’s Energy Directorate, said that from an initial analysis of the reports sent so far it seemed most member states intended to meet their targets, essentially through domestic action.

He noted there were a few countries, such as Luxembourg and Belgium, that would need to have some form of statistical transfer of renewable energy from other countries or to engage in joint projects.

According to an EU-wide agreement, by the end of 2010 Malta is bound to produce 10 per cent of its energy needs through clean energy. Until now, Malta is the only member state among the EU 27 that still depends totally on fossil fuels to produce all its electricity needs.

The construction of three wind farms and a submarine link to the European electricity grid are in the pipeline but no dates have been announced regarding completion.