Look at this ginormous lie of a headline on Malta Today
Published:
November 22, 2011 at 11:37am
JOSEPH MUSCAT REVEALS STRATEGY TO REDUCE UTILITY RATES
And the ‘eats, shoots and leaves’ blooper in the standfirst:
Labour leader reiterates decrease in utility rates, same-sex unions, cohabitation and IVF laws.
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What strategy?
No he didn’t, reveal the strategy ie.
He mumbled something about an investor willing to put one billion dollars (yes) into a powerplant which, however, and this is where he showed his agenda, doesn’t use coal as fuel. He then went on to challenge Dr.Gonzi to make a feasibility study.
In other words, his strategy, the one he’s been harping on about for the past two years, still requires a feasibility study, one which conveniently materialised when John Dalli uncovered his proposal two weeks ago.
He tried to pass the buck onto the prime minister when he ‘challenged’ him to take this proposal on. The obvious intention being that of justifying his U-turn in the future, when he WON’T reduce the tariffs, by blaming Lawrence Gonzi. Il-hofra mark II.
He really gets the biscuit for being a smart alec does he?
He also mentioned the interconnector, repeating what this government intends to do, this time jumping on the liberalisation of energy supply bandwagon. He then concluded by declaring his intention to convert the plant being built to gas, again something this administration is already doing. He slid in the word gas oil to leave out the dilemma with having a gas operated plant and no (thank goodness) storage facilities to compensate for intermittent supply, given the turmoil in North Africa. Putin’s gas turns out to be available according to his mood.
Does he think we’re stupid?
He also mentioned green jobs and alternative energy, although his centralised socialist mentality made him refuse to acknowledge the validity of domestic energy generation and consumption taming, something this government is pursuing.
He also blurted his super energy minister would be a ‘she’, no prizes for guessing.
He tries hard to link everything to make it sound like an organic design, then spoils it by referring to the tax on cement as a burden on families and young couples, fancy that, over 30,000 vacant dwellings and nothing decent to choose from.
Liked the way he acknowledged the transport reform’s success as beneficial to the economy apart from the green aspect, but hated the way he still couldn’t resist equating quality of life to how many cars and fuel costs one should be entitled to afford, as if it were a justified social aspiration.
I wonder where he gets his inspiration, only to kill it with his confused entropic thinking. An engineer he isn’t.
There is something I do not understand.
If there is a private investor willing to invest Euro 1 billion into a private cost-efficient energy project, what is the private investor waiting for?
On the other hand, if the government must procure that project, or, as I suspect, the government is being asked to secure the acquisition of the electricity generated from that project from that supplier, is Joseph Muscat really suggesting that Lawrence Gonzi should issue a DIRECT ORDER to that supplier of the technology brought forward by EU Commissioner Cittadin Malti John Dalli?
Let us not beat about the bush. If the project investment is of Euro 1 billion, the business that it will generate in the form of electricity produced over several years will run into several billions.
So the future energy minister will be a “she”. Makes sense. The investor wants to build the plant in Gozo.
Yes he did! He is considering a few options including the one by newly befriended previously corrupt Johnny.
One question – if the one by Johnny is so an in-the-face-cheaper alternative why is the “economised“ considering other options too?
Mr.Micallef, the saying goes : – ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’….. you can never have an ultimate solution especially with regards to power generation.
In his press conference, Joseph Muscat reiterated that he will bring economic growth because he will reduce the water and electricity tariffs. This is a clear statement, if we needed one, that he is no economist.
You do not generate economic growth by turning utilities into a social service for all, even those who don’t need help. The state will carry the cost by subsidising, and the state doesn’t earn any money of its own, but gets it through taxation. The lower the tariffs, the greater the consumption, and the more the state will have to tax people to pay for it.
Someone has to shoulder the cost, and if it is government, it will either add to the debt, and jeopardise the economic outlook, or it will tax those who create wealth, hence a direct blow to economic growth.
An economy grows through export and increased production of goods and services, the flow of money from overseas, and investment, not through taxpayer-subsidised water and electricity..
Unless Joseph Muscat can reduce the price of imported oil, there is little he can do about the price of water and electricity.
He can look at alternative energy…. as is being suggested actually. Hence no oil will be used for the power generated using these means.
[Daphne – Oh I see, up taxes to give everybody free PV systems. And your real name would be, perhaps, Edina Monsoon?]
Ivan M. Dingli is an habitue’ of comments boards, second only in persistence and obtuseness to the late, unlamented I.Galea.
[Daphne – L. Galea isn’t ‘the late’. He received a prison sentence for what he did to me and planned to do to others (the police found the evidence on his computer) and has since thought it best to keep quiet. Interestingly, Anglu Farrugia was his defence lawyer.]
Alternative sources alone cannot to be considered capable of resolving this country’s energy demands.
Any government would be mad to go for such a policy. Germany has just vouched to go green and shut down its nuclear reactors for the sixth time now, each and every time reversing the decision.
What is required is the right mix for a stable supply.
Stable includes the price itself. One minor detail is wind farms’ dependency on consistent wind patterns. As yet, nobody has taken on responsibility for their existence locally, hence the prolonged studies.
Factor in the constant innovation and improved efficiency, as well as design defects recorded elsewhere and the picture doesn’t remain as clear.
What would Labour do if these studies concluded these farms aren’t viable, accuse government of wasting money?
The same applies for photovoltaic panels which are directly proportional in expense to the energy generated, not to mention the footprint required. One diesel powered turbine inside a standard container is equivalent to acres of panels. The main resource required, land mass, to make both these systems viable, is missing.
This is why Joseph needs to stop his vacuous tactics for sole political gain. In this case, his behaviour, in opposition, is obstructing ours, disincentivising factories and individuals to move to energy independence, which is what Europe aims for.
The fact he does it, doesn’t augur at all well.
I suggest he keeps in mind his daughters’ future when tackling this subject.
Or maybe La Redoute is right? Did I not read on this blog somewhere that l.galea had metamorphosized into Tony Camilleri?
La Redoute… very convenient for you to pass judgement when you use a pseudo name. Please do not compare me with L. Galea, he’s a different category with which i do not wish to be included.
Should i compare you with Mary Ann Borg, Giovann Demartino, Jospeh E. Briffa, Nenu Aquilina, etc etc…. i can go on for ever La Redoute.
I have an opinion which i am not afraid to vouch, thus i use my real name.
Thanks
The summary of a scientific study co-authored by Edward Mallia, states (and I am quoting):
“The potential of renewable energies is presented for the territory of the Republic of Malta. These are in the main sun, wind and biogas. Taking the base year 2003 for comparing the percentage contribution of electricity generated from renewables to that generated from fossil-fuelled power stations, it was found that rooftop solar photovoltaic systems could produce 9.1%, onshore wind farms could offset 5.4% and the offshore wind potential lies in the region of 3.4%. Energy from waste could contribute another 5.6%, while widespread solar water heating in domestic buildings could offset 4.8%.”
So basically at most 28-29% of our needs.
In addition, one has to consider that the break even point for these sources is of around 10-11 years (with a lifetime of around 20 years). Thus the state would need to finance this in addition to financing a power station. This has to come from somewhere – basically us.
As for the cost per unit, it is estimated that the cost per unit is of around 15 euro cent per unit (for photovoltaic and wind) including overheads and maintenance – so it only makes sense if the cost of the electricity produced from oil/gas fired power stations is at least 15 Euro cent per unit.
Even if we cover every square inch of Malta with photovoltaic cells, we wouldn’t cover more than 10% of our energy needs. I think it should be printed at the bottom of every document and poster on alternative energy, like the little warning labels on cigarette packets.
Baxxter,
we could, however, consider these,
http://www.enemyforces.net/navy/941.htm
190MW each, a tourist attraction and an ideal set for Gensna.
Baxx, today my twelve panels generated nine units at peak load time. That’s how much my household consumes in a day.
I think that at the rate they’re going I would pay zilch in electricity bills.
There are many successful and big ERDF subsidised PV installations Toyota and Malta Freeport are two which I saw.
At the beginning of his speech, Joseph Muscat made comparisons to the management of a family and individual wealth. They just don’t grasp the difference between running the country and taking care of a family. You don’t apply the same economic dynamics. It is reasoning a’ la Mintoff.
It is reasoning designed to appeal to those whose understanding of the world is limited to their domestic interests.
What I found particularly interesting was his adamant statement that he would still reduce the tariffs even if there was an increase in cost.
This defies logic and common sense. The biggest wasters and tax evaders will be the ones that benefit. Those that use these utilities conscienciously and have a fixed salary will suffer. So much for the ghaqal.
John Schembri
With 12 panels you might have a maximum of 2kWp. Yesterday, the actual usable amount of sun light was of around 2 hours – so you would have produced at the most 4 units.
What you might be referring to is the average production – with a 2Kwp system that would amount to 9 units daily.
Snoop ,on second thoughts it was the day before yesterday.I apologise.
But to put it “on the rekort”, today I got 9.98 kWhrs (units) on the MRA meter.
Average is surely 10 units a day. Maximum was 14 units in a day, that was last April, when the temperature was not high.
BTW I have a solar water heater also.That’s another 2-3 units per day.
I will install a vertical axis wind generator (very silent) if MEPA grants me a permit and MRA accepts another feed in source from my house.
For the uninformed; I’m earning €2.50 a day on a capital outlay of €5,500. estimated lifespan is 25 years(?) with an efficiency reduction to 80% . I anticipate the change of the condensers of the inverter in seven years time , costing me around €50(estimate).
La bis-small print u lanqas bil-CAPS LOCK.
Decrease in same-sex unions, cohabitation and IVF laws too? True, the people at Maltatoday should read Lynne Truss’s book.
Aha! A cunning plan! Politically manipulate depreciation rates in order to reduce utility bills.
Does he think everyone is as stupid as the people with whom he surrounds himself?
From boy wonder to boy blunder.
So ironic. Little Joey’s yakking about falsely reducing utility rates last night and, ‘voila!’, nation wide blackout today.
Wonder how many aboriginal grunts he has working in the power plants.