LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – According to official statistics presented by Maltàs Regulator for Energy and Water Services to the European Commission, the peak energy demand in Malta has increased by 42%, from 408 MegaWatts in 2013 to 581MW in 2022. Moreover, the share provided by solar energy to cater for spikes in energy demand during peak load days has also soared from just 6% in 2015, to 21.3% in 2022. However, the report does not include the provisional figures for 2023. The energy demand in 2023 reached a new record high of 649MW on 17 July, during the latest power outrage. This represents an increase of 12% from 2022, and of 59% over 2012. Although renewable energy accounted for more than one-fifth of energy demand on the day with the highest energy demand, overall renewables still account for 7.2% of the fuel mix injected in the grid. All peaks in energy demand occurred in summer, particularly in July and August, months characterised by a greater influx of tourists and by widespread use of air-conditioners. Malta, il picco della domanda energetica aumentato del 42%, le rinnovabili hanno fornito il 21%

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Marine Protected Areas of the Egadi Islands, Ustica and Gozo, the Department of Mediterranean Fisheries of the Sicily Region and the Maltese Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture are participating in this project. International cooperation, exchange of good practices, development of sustainable artisanal fishing and measures to protect the Marine Protected Areas of the Mediterranean were the themes at the centre of the discussion during the Steering Committee meeting which took place from 1 to 4 September in Gozo and Valletta in Malta, as part of the “AMPPA – Marine Protected Areas and Artisanal Fishing” project – Integrated management through awareness-raising and environmental education” financed by the INTERREG V-A Italy-Malta Programme.
An Italian delegation of technical experts and representatives from the participating islands met with the Maltese representatives to take stock of the actions with the aim to contribute for the protection and safeguarding of the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the MPAs (on the islands of Sicily and Malta) through the creation of systems and services for the protection and restoration of transboundary biodiversity.
This is the twelfth Steering Committee of the AMPPA project which is reaching its final phase. Many actions have been carried out including territorial animation activities (educational workshops and environmental awareness days) and experimental fishing campaigns. Some are ongoing or in the implementation phase such as the drafting of a common regulation, useful for the rational management of small-scale professional fishing activities, with a view to safeguarding the local environmental and cultural heritage.
Also present was the general manager of the Mediterranean Fisheries Department of the Sicilian Region, Alberto Pulizzi, who underlined how fundamental is the cooperation between countries to guarantee the protection of protected marine areas but also of artisanal fishing: “we need to systematize everything that emerge from these important exchanges, in order to create a common strategy, capable of carrying forward these activities in the best possible way”.
“We have reached the final stages of this project – stated Salvatore Livreri Console, director of the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area -. Three years of intensive work with continuous exchanges of information among those involved in the fishing activity surrounding the Sicilian and Maltese coasts. We have carried out a whole series of dissemination and information activities, met the fishing communities, we are working on a common regulation and we are also testing new types of nets together with the Maltese partners, capable of allowing more sustainable fishing but also more advantageous for the operators. We hope that all the work done can be useful and be an example for other marine protected areas”.
The AMPPA project continues with many other activities: the events are in the municipalities of Gharb and Ghajnsielem on the island of Gozo and on the islands of Ustica, Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo with many events, festivals, workshops for children and the creation of three environmental education.

– foto Amppa –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The international NGO Alarm Phone confirmed that a group of migrants who were in distress are on their way to the port of Trapani. The migrants were saved by the crew onboard the rescue ship ‘Louise Michel’ following 12 hours of searching in the central Mediterranean.
Alarm Phone confirmed that the migrants were onboard a very unstable rubber boat. “It was a massive relief when the boat was finally spotted by Frontex aircraft Osprey 2, who called the Louise Michel. Our crew is now on its way to our assigned safe port, Trapani.”
The NGO added: “several people are suffering from fuel burns from the gasoline in the boat. As the weather is getting worse, we are more than glad that all survivors are now safely on board our ship and can hopefully rest a little bit.”
Alarm Phone added, “after informing the Italian authorities, they instructed us to look for the boat. Late at night, they retracted their order and told us to abandon the search for the boat as it was not at sea anymore.”
The NGO has also issued a warning to all migrants trying to escape from Northern Africa to Europe. “A severe storm is currently in the north Aegean and the Ionian seas. Extreme rain and winds will pose a threat to life. The storm is already moving west towards Italy and Malta”.

foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Maltese economy registered a growth rate of 3.9% in volume terms for the second quarter of 2023. According to provisional estimates published by the National Statistics Office, the GDP for the second quarter of 2023 amounted to €4.7 billion, registering an increase of €416.9 million, or 9.7%, when compared to the same quarter of 2022. The NSO said that economic growth was measured from the aspects of production, consumption and profits. The contribution to the growth rate in volume terms of Service activities and Industry were both positive and stood at 4.0 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. The increase in Service activities was mainly driven by the growth rates recorded in the following sectors: Administrative and support services activities (25.4%), Financial and insurance activities (15.4%) and Accommodation and food service activities (21.8%). However, agriculture and fishing recorded a negative contribution of 0.1 percentage points. Figures show that in the second quarter of 2023, Final consumption expenditure increased by 2.9% in volume terms. This was mainly the result of an increase in Private final consumption of 5.9%. General government final consumption decreased by 3.8 %. Between April and June exports of merchandise and services increased by 2.5% while imports decreased by 1.6%. Compared to the second quarter of 2022, the increase of €416.9 million in nominal GDP was mainly the result of increases in Compensation of employees and Gross operating surplus and mixed income of €135.4 million and €285.3 million, respectively. These increases were partly offset by a decrease of €3.8 million in Net taxation on production and imports. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

MILAN (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The first Italian-Saudi Investment Forum was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and the Ministry of Investments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by Minister Khalid Al-Falih.

The memorandum of understanding is intended to support dialogue between institutions and companies interested in promoting investment between the two countries and to encourage cooperation in direct investments, supporting investors in all phases of projects once they have been indicated as having importance strategic economy for one of the two countries.

During the bilateral meeting between the two ministers, Saudi Minister Al-Falih invited Minister Urso to Riyadh to consolidate cooperation between the two countries and encourage collaboration between companies.

Also participating in the forum are the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Made in Italy, Valentino Valentini, the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, the Saudi Ambassador to Italy, Prince Faisal Bin Salman and the Saudi government investor relations manager, Badr Albadr.

Around 1,200 companies are participating, of which 500 physically and over 700 remotely. More than 150 Saudi companies are participating. Among the Italian companies there are Eni, Snam, Cdp, Enel, Leonardo, WeBuild, Maire, Pirelli, Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Ita, Ansaldo Energia, Saipem, Invimit participate in the forum.

The objective of the Forum is to enhance existing synergies, identifying new development opportunities and promoting collaboration and dialogue between business leaders, institutions and investors of the two countries.

– photo: press office Ministry of Made in Italy –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities will be offering the latest annual Covid-19 booster as the immunity is starting to diminish. The Health Ministry noted that taking an annual booster vaccination dose remains very important, especially for vulnerable people.
The health authorities observed a noticeable increase in reported cases of positive COVID-19 cases during this summer, with the average number of weekly cases in Malta rising to 143.75 between July 24 and 20 August, compared to 80.75 weekly cases between 26 June and 23 July. “The increase in cases is not limited to Malta, as other EU countries have also reported rising case numbers, according to the ECDC,” the Ministry noted.
Fortunately, despite the rise in new cases, the mortality rates attributed to Covid-19 have not increased, the Ministry said. “This is due to the fact that a very high proportion of the Maltese population is vaccinated.”
The Ministry also said that the highest incidence of cases is mainly noted in those over 65 years of age. The Maltese health authorities are encouraging the public to take necessary prevention measures for respiratory illness including staying home in isolation if symptomatic, testing, washing hands, and keeping up to date with vaccinations.

– foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Following last Thursday head-on traffic accident on Via Peppino Impastato in Pozzallo Sicily, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Malta confirmed that the first Maltese couple arrived in Malta on the catamaran on Friday evening, and are presently recovering at Mater Dei Hospital. The Ministry added that another Maltese national is being helped by his son and arrived in Malta on the catamaran in the last hours, but his wife needs the services of an air ambulance to return to Malta because of the injuries she sustained in the accident. In the case of the third couple, the man has been discharged from the hospital and is still in Sicily waiting for his wife, who also needs an air ambulance to return to Malta for treatment. In the case of the two women needing an air ambulance, talks are ongoing between the involved couples, the Mater Dei administration in Malta and the insurance companies, for the women to be brought over to Malta for treatment. One of them is suffering from an elbow fracture and the other woman needs hip surgery.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Six Maltese nationals who are on a holiday in Sicily ended up in a head-on traffic accident on the road from Pozzallo to Modica and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
The accident occurred yesterday, when the Maltese tourists were travelling in a minibus which can take up to nine passengers. The minibus collided with a Volkswagen T-Roc SUV, and as a result eight passengers were injured.
The driver and passenger in the car, and the six Maltese tourists were taken to two hospitals by a number of ambulances.
Three of the Maltese citizens were admitted to a hospital in Ragusa while three others are at a hospital in Modica.  At the Ragusa hospital there is a woman and two men. The woman suffered an elbow fracture and can only be transported to Malta by ambulance. One of the other men dislocated his shoulder, while the second man is stable.
At the Modica hospital there were two women and a man. The man has been discharged, one of the women suffered a fractured jaw and leg injuries, while the second woman needed a hip surgery and can only be brought to Malta by ambulance.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is in constant contact with the Italian authorities to make the necessary arrangements for the Maltese patients to be brought to Malta for treatment.
Maltàs embassy in Rome and the Honorary Consulate in Catania are in constant contact with the patients and their relatives.
– foto Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government has launched for consultation Maltàs first national policy for offshore renewable energy with plans to have the first wind or solar floating farms located between 12 and 25 nautical miles off Maltà shores. While the Maltese islands are limited by their spatial ground area of 316km2, the country through its geographical location in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, has a potential Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 70,000km2, which is much larger than its land area. Six sites have been identified as potential areas where the floating farms could be located. Several factors were taken into account including: airport buffer zone and harbour approaches, aquaculture farm boundaries, submarine cables and pipelines, exploratory oil wells and potential oil and gas prospects, fishing aggregation devices zones, marine facilities and marine and bird species in the area. Wind strength was also taken into account. At the moment, most of Maltàs energy is generated from fossil fuel with only 10 per cent coming from renewable energy. Most of the renewable energy is generated from solar panels – which take a lot of space in a country where land is limited and expensive. Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said, “this is Maltàs first-ever national policy for offshore renewable energy to offer clean and affordable energy that is created responsibly and with environmental awareness. We need to get to a point where our energy is generated from renewable sources so that we can be more autonomous,” adding that the interest of the consumer was always at the centre and that such investment would also be creating jobs. The public consultation is open until the end of September after which the feedback will be evaluated and an international call for expression of interest will lead to the shortlisting of bidders. No timeline was given for the setting up of the first renewable energy farms as that depended on several factors.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

CERNOBBIO (COMO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “It is impossible to think of negotiating with Putin”. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the declaration in a video link during the European House-Ambrosetti Forum, in Cernobbio.
According to Zelensky, the killing of Prigozhin signifies how weak Putin’s own words are.” “Prigozhin was a terrorist, but he did what Putin wanted,” underlined the Ukrainian President.
“Without Crimea, without Donbass, there cannot be sustainable peace in Ukraine and therefore there cannot be sustainable peace in the European Union”, explained Zelensky, while adding: “Russia is bombing our homes and creating chaos in Africa, but that doesn’t show strength, it only hides weakness. The enemy creates chaos to take what does not belong to them”.
Zelensky declared: “We have never had any doubts about Italy’s support, and we thank it for the help it has given us,” adding “just as we thank the European Union, this is the time for strong decisions for global security”.

– foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews