VALLETTA (MALTA)(ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has recorded the largest increase in household electricity consumption in the European Union, with use rising by 66% since 2015, according to new Eurostat figures.
The increase far outpaces the EU average of just over 3%, while Estonia ranked second with a 36% rise.
The surge reflects population growth, the construction of more apartments and increased use of electrical appliances.
The expansion of tourism and the short-let market has also generated additional demand for electricity.
New properties are increasingly equipped with air conditioners, electric cookers and ovens, while rising household incomes have given families greater purchasing power to buy and use electrical appliances.
Economists also identified the Government’s electricity subsidy scheme as a factor encouraging consumption. The policy has kept household electricity prices relatively stable since 2014, at around €12 per 100kWh. The subsidies, estimated to have cost about €1 billion over the years, have shielded consumers from the sharp energy price increases experienced elsewhere in Europe.
However, the policy has attracted warnings over its financial and environmental costs. The IMF and Central Bank of Malta have previously raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the scheme, with the Central Bank calling in 2025 for a gradual exit strategy.
Malta’s energy figures also underline its dependence on fossil fuels. Only 16% of its energy comes from renewable sources, compared with the EU’s 42.5% target for 2030. Meanwhile, fossil fuels account for nearly 85% of electricity generation.
The figures are expected to fuel debate over whether Malta should maintain subsidised energy prices or shift towards policies that encourage lower consumption and greater investment in renewable energy.
-Photo Enemalta-
(ITALPRESS).
