📋 Tender Overview
Over the last years we have seen how the transport and energy sectors fully impact each other to the point that the challenges faced by one sector have an impact on the other. If we want to ensure that we are successful in developing both sectors while also meeting our climate targets we need to move forward together.This was said by the Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia during an informal meeting of the council of Ministers for Transport and Energy in Stockholm.The Minister said that Malta has limited opportunities to make the change in the way of travel where land transport is the only available and feasible option to travel while transport by sea and the Air is the only option for Maltas connectivity with Europe and the rest of the world. He claimed that these geo-physical limitations and the lack of natural resources mean that the electrification of the transport fleet is the only solution.He explained that the government is working to invest in good infrastructure with 340 charging points already installed and functioning and with another 1200 charging points planned until the year 2024. at the same time the government launched schemes to encourage people and businesses to switch to electric vehicles.In addition the minister went on to explain that the ports of the TEN-T network are being replaced with infrastructure that provides energy from the ground while the national aviation policy that was launched recently creates a balance between the benefits socio-economic and works to achieve the countrys goals in relation to decarbonisation while preserving the connectivity and competitiveness of our country.Minister Farrugia reiterated that our country must be equipped with a safe reliable and affordable energy supply. He said that in the last year which was a challenging one there was an increase in transport costs. He continued that once our country is moving towards the electrification of the fleet both private and public we need to have a strong and resilient electricity grid as well as a mix of energy sources including renewable energy. Accordingly Malta expects to receive the European Commissions proposal in this regard.Furthermore we want to ensure that demand and supply in the EU legislative area are synchronized. Together we must continue to invest in the development of cleaner fuels that are affordable safe and readily available to all. With regard to the supply of electric vehicles Malta depends on the European market which does not think enough for electric vehicles that are driven by drivers on the right side. Therefore we need to guide and support the European industry to ensure that it complies with the necessary standards. This guarantees that the collective goals can be reached by all interested parties concluded Minister Farrugia.
