Price of interconnector energy increases by 500% since 2020

Aug 24 2022

The price of interconnector energy has increased by nearly 500% since 2020. The massive increase is due to the multiple global crises that the world has seen since 2020, whether it be the covid-19 pandemic or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that has ultimately affected all of Europe in one way or another.

According to a map of EU energy purchases published this week, Malta paid around €591 per megawatt for power from the European grid on Monday.

By comparison, before 2020 Malta used to pay around €100 per megawatt for power from the interconnector.

The prices will reportedly increase even more in the coming years. They will increase to approximately €700 per megawatt, according to industry experts.

Even though a severe rise in cost in energy for households and businesses has been a common occurrence around the EU, prices in Malta have not changed a lot. Enemalta are still selling energy to consumers at 2014 prices albeit the rise in cost.

Last April the government committed €200 million to protect consumers from rising energy prices. They did not confirm how long this money would cover the costs.

#MaltaDaily

Persons with disabilities could get personal assistant to support independence

Aug 24 2022

According to Agenzija Sapport CEO Oliver Scicluna, people with disabilities could very soon have a personal assistant appointed to them to support the cultivation of an independent life.

Differing from a home carer, the assistant’s recruitment and training would be directed by the person with disability or their guardian, in case of intellectual disabilities, to train them to the specific needs.

Scicluna said that the Support Agency is working on introducing the new concept and to move away from the current European Network on Independent Living system.

The current context sees the government allocating and paying for carers for eligible people with disabilities. Scicluna differentiated this from the personal assistant who will help them ‘reach their potential.’

Carers are also currently recruited from agencies which specialise in elderly care. Scicluna said that personal assistance would require the creation of a new job title so that the right people could be recruited through JobsPlus.

The persons with disabilities themselves would be involved in the recruitment and training process to create a person centred approach to the process.

#MaltaDaily

Prime Minister meets Hamrun and Marsa mayors as localities turn eyes

Aug 24 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela has held a meeting with the mayors of both Ħamrun and Marsa to discuss issues related to security. This seems to be Abela’s first official order of business since his return from a summer holiday.

Taking to Facebook, the Prime Minister said that that he always has important discussions with Hamrun mayor Chris Sammut and Marsa mayor Josef Azzopardi.

“Not only do they voice their residents’ concerns but they also propose solutions. The government isn’t only listening but taking action in the best interest of people.”

“Although a lot of work has already been done, it is crucial to continue building upon it” he finished. He also made reference to the drug operation carried out in Valletta and Marsa this morning, which saw ten people arrested.

Security concerns overtook the current Maltese zeitgeist after a major street fight in Hamrun, with many also pointing to lack of integration policies for certain foreign communities. The violence also saw PN MPs Joe Giglio and Alex Borg calling for the immediate deportation of all people involved in the altercation.

#MaltaDaily

Lecturers Union state that university budget cuts must be implemented ‘intelligently’

Aug 24 2022

Luciano Mule Stagno, the head professor of the Lecturer’s Union, has stated that university budget cuts must happen diligently in order not to affect any research.

This statement comes after the University of Malta was informed that the government will reduce their budget by a hefty €1.1 million.

“We have to ensure that major operations are not impacted by the cuts,” the University of Malta Academic Staff Association head (UMASA) said.

UOM rector Alfred Vella also informed lecturers and University staff that the budget will be kept around the same number come next year, meaning that the cut will not be a one time occurence.

Luciano Mule Stagno told MaltaToday that the Union is yet to confirm its official position since they only recently learned of the news.

“We understand that this was imposed on the university, but we are currently concerned on where these budget cuts will be carried out, and what their impact will be,” he said.

The biggest concern for the union is that the budget cut will affect ongoing research being carried out. This refers to any individual projects and tools needed for any particular research.

When asked whether the Union were expecting any budget cuts or even heard anything prior to the announcement he had this to say “In the last couple of days we did hear that some budget cuts would be rolled out, and given the country’s current deficit, we did expect something, but we did not know of any figure.”

#MaltaDaily