Media Release

Friday 16th December 2016, Malta – The Investing in Energy project was launched this morning at The Exchange Buildings in Valletta, where around 50 business representatives were addressed by representatives from the lead project partner the MBB, and partners The Energy and Water Agency and The Malta Chamber.

The Malta Chamber President Anton Borg opened proceedings, highlighting that industry is often the driver of technological innovation, and an important motivator in the main-streaming of such innovation. He encouraged SMEs to take advantage of the Investing in Energy Project to improve their energy performance.

In a panel discussion chaired by The Malta Chamber’s Environmental Committee Chair, Perit David Xuereb, when asked to comment on the policy significance of the project, Agency CEO Daniel Azzopardi said ‘The Investing in Energy Project supports the achievement of goals identified in the Energy Efficiency Directive, and Malta’s National Energy Efficiency Plan. The industries targeted through this project are significant energy consumers, and they are therefore an important stakeholder for inclusion in any energy efficiency drives.’

The project runs until December 2018, aiming to involve the larger energy consuming medium sized enterprises, particularly within two industrial sectors: the manufacturing sector and the import, distribution, and retail sectors. Medium Sized enterprises interested in participating in the project were encouraged to register with the Malta Business Bureau.

 Perit Xuereb highlighted that the Investing in Energy Project is based on two previous collaborations by the partners: The EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project, and an initiative which led to over 30% of Non-SMEs signing voluntary agreements committing to implementing energy efficiency measures.

 Asked to comment on this, MBB CEO Joe Tanti said “The Investing in Energy Project builds on the business-to-business approach used in the MBB’s multiple award winning EU LIFE+ Investing in Water Project, which resulted in over 141 million litres of water saved every year by collaborating businesses. We are duplicating this business-to-business approach, to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency measures by medium sized commercial enterprises.”

Ing. Charles Buttigieg explained how this initiative forms part of the national strategy aimed at improving Malta’s energy efficiency, and targets relevant commercial sectors with tailored initiatives. He emphasized that the project’s goal was to generate sustainable benefits lasting beyond the project’s lifespan.

The first phase of the project will consist of detailed collection of data on energy consumption by medium sized enterprises, followed by a pilot set of energy audits. The second phase will consist of a larger set of energy audits, training workshops for technical staff, and a mentoring programme, where staff from medium sized enterprises will be teamed up with staff from best practice non-SMEs. The project will also publish two reports on energy efficiency for industry, and hold an energy conference.

The Investing in Energy Project builds on a previous initiative between the three project partners. Through that initiative, Non-SMEs were encouraged to identify and commit to energy efficiency measures, reporting on implementation to the Energy and Water Agency, and acting as best practice disseminators. To date, over 30% of Non-SMEs in Malta have signed this agreement, presenting measures representing 8,500 tons of CO2 emissions reduced per annum. The latest signatories to this agreement; Actavis, DHL, Farsons, Hotset, and MSC Technologies, were presented with Energy Efficiency Partner Initiative certificates during the event.

The Investing in Energy Project is led by the Malta Business Bureau in partnership with The Energy and Water Agency and The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, with co-financing from the Regulator for Energy and Water Services and the Ministry for the Economy Investment and Small Business.

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