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The Green party has accused the government of leaving Malta dangerously dependent on foreign electricity, arguing that a failure to generate sufficient renewable energy locally is harming both job creation and national security.

In a statement, ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci – who is standing in districts 6 and 12 – and International Secretary Mark Zerafa – a candidate for districts 1 and 9 – said the government had fallen back on interconnectors to mask its lack of progress on domestic renewables.

They noted that a third interconnector has been announced even though the second has yet to be built. Because emissions from electricity imported via the interconnector are not counted in Malta’s own emission figures, the Greens argued the government is attempting to give a misleading impression of its environmental performance.

“What it is actually doing is leaving us massively dependent on electricity imports from abroad, paying rising prices caused by international crises and pollution taxes, while failing to maximise the potential for local jobs in the renewable energy sector,” the party said.

ADPD acknowledged that connection to the European grid is necessary, but said it cannot be allowed to justify the “extremely sluggish” pace of domestic renewable energy development.

The party highlighted Malta’s failure to transpose EU Directive 2023/2413 on promoting renewable energy into national law. That directive targets 42.5% of the EU’s average energy coming from clean and renewable sources by 2030. However, the Maltese government negotiated a target of just 25%.

“The fact that the Maltese government negotiated such a low target is an indication of its complacency, treating interconnectors as though they are a magic solution,” the statement read.

ADPD argued that renewable energy investment would create quality jobs and increase Malta’s resilience to international crises, including wars in Ukraine and Iran. Solar, wind and sea currents offer abundant clean energy potential, the party said.

“We have no excuses – only a lack of drive and innovation,” ADPD added.