Over the last 11 months, Malta has experienced four nationwide power cuts – on the 16 June 2009, 18 November 2009, 22 March 2010 and 2 April 2010.
The increased frequency of the power cuts has turned what could conceivably be described as an inconvenience last year into a veritable crisis, particularly because the general feeling is that it is going to get much worse before it gets any better.
Let’s face it: March and April are months when electricity usage is at its lowest. It is warm enough for people to live without using heaters, and cool enough that nobody has switched on air conditioners. If the power stations are experiencing such serious problems at this time of year, what will happen during the next heat wave, when fans and air conditioners will be working on overtime?
There are clearly no quick fixes to the mess we are in and people want answers. The time has come for the government to be honest with us and disclose exactly how bad the situation really is. This will enable people and businesses to make decisions and plan ahead.
If the situation is precarious and the likelihood of power cuts in the coming months is great, many businesses will probably opt to invest in UPS equipment, generators and surge protectors. Those who have already done so, on the other hand, might decide to upgrade their current equipment in order to be better prepared for all that may come.
This leads us to the most serious problem of all – the total loss of face that Malta has suffered internationally. We are marketing ourselves as a Smart Island that has the human resources and infrastructure necessary to make us an attractive investment destination – and yet we somehow cannot guarantee our power supply! Our slogan should change from ‘Invest in Malta!’ to ‘Invest in Malta (and a generator)!’
There is a cardinal rule when one operates mission critical equipment – eliminate every single point of failure. This means having a contingency plan in place to ensure that if equipment fails, as it invariably does, there is always a replacement ready to take over immediately in order to ensure that there is no downtime.
There can be no doubt that the power stations are mission critical for the entire country. There is nowhere else we can get electricity so if they stop, so do we. This means that keeping the power generation facilities up to scratch should be a top priority for the state. Notwithstanding this, the government is pulling a Pontius Pilate on us and washing its hands of the whole affair. Based on the statements and announcements currently being made by the top honchos, one would think that this situation has suddenly sprung up without any prior warning and that there is nothing that could have been done to prevent us getting to this sorry state.
However if it is true that in 2006 Enemalta published a report that stated that “the 100MW Generation plant must be in service during 2010. Delays in this time line will result in Enemalta’s inability to meet demand during the peak season” then it becomes clear that the problem was recognised several years ago but that the people who were in the know sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The chickens have now come home to roost and we are suffering the consequences of incompetence.
Whose incompetence, I ask? Is it possible that nobody can be held responsible for the situation? Is Enemalta rudderless?
We are now told that a special committee is now being set up to review and recommend a number of short-term fixes to reduce the incidence of blackouts until the new Delimara extension and the interconnector cable with Sicily come online.
About time!
Our mission critical power utility is in management by crisis mode and this does not augur well. I hate to say it but I have a feeling that the next two to three years are not going to be pleasant ones from a power security perspective.
In fact I have some recommendations for you. Add the following to your shopping list, because the way things are going you are likely to need them soon:
1. Candles.
2. Extra long safety matches (easier to use in the dark).
3. Replacement batteries for all your torches.
4. Emergency lights.
5. Playing cards (to play Solitaire in the dark)
It pays to be prepared.
You’re either in or you’re out!
Last Sunday The Independent carried comments from organisations and people who were then classified as for or against the Renzo Piano City Gate project. The author of the piece asked the Valletta Alive Foundation, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar and Kenneth Zammit Tabona for their opinions and then concluded that the first two were for the project while the latter two were against.
I could not help laughing as I read Kenneth Zammit Tabona’s comments. There, under the against heading, the hapless artist stated “I wish to make my own position crystal clear. I am all for the Piano Project. I am a great fan of Renzo Piano and believe that what he creates in Valletta will be stunning.”
If this is the kind of resistance that Renzo Piano is going to encounter in Malta, then he is going to have a ball.
It seems to me that the author of the piece believes that people are not entitled to criticise. In a typical case of ‘Min mhux maghna kontra taghna’ (If you do not agree with us totally then you are against us), Zammit Tabona was portrayed as being against the project solely because he complained about the fact that there was no consultation, particularly in the case of the proposed open-air theatre.
You’re either in or you’re out! No criticism allowed.
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