Libya to export renewable energy to Malta
Malta and Libya have signed an MoU to make Libya a renewable energy source for Malta.
Image for illustration purposes.
Libya, Tripoli: Malta and Libya have signed an MoU to make Libya a renewable energy source for Malta.
The agreement was signed in Tripoli after a bilateral meeting between Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
“Libya has a strong potential to generate renewable energy and in the context of this country’s willingness to be a strategic partner with the European Union it leads to Malta being ready to serve as a centre for green energy that connects Europe with Africa,” said Abela.
Malta is almost exclusively reliant on fossil fuel for electricity production. In 2021, 78.9 % of total electricity generation was derived from natural gas, with a further 12.2 % of generation sourced from oil and petroleum products.
Malta’s Energy & Water Agency said the country aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 as per the European Green Deal. This agreement has each member of the EU committing to secure an economy with a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
To do this, Malta aims to significantly reduce its carbon emissions through its continued use of viable renewable energy sources.
“Our goal is to increase Malta’s share of renewable energy sources and decrease the overall energy intensity of its economy through a range of initiatives that focus on utilising indigenous sustainable energy resources across specific locations.”
“The security of Malta’s energy supply is a key area of focus for us. Being a small island, Malta has a small electricity supply system and only a single electricity supplier (Enemalta plc) and depends heavily on imported energy sources.”
A recent research paper Libya’s energy sector said the country “has excellent conditions for renewable energies both in the fields of solar and wind energy, though the tremendous potential is thus far untapped.”
As part of a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) has recently claimed a leading role in the development of renewable energies. The NOC has the financial resources for the development of mega projects and for building the infrastructure to export green energy to Europe. Green hydrogen is expected to play a key role.
Source: ESI Africa
#Energy & Water Agency#European Green Deal#National Oil Corporation#net-zero greenhouse gas emissions