Energy conservation with reference to Malta Drydocks

Abstract

How this is looked upon:- Energy supply situation. Malta lacks any primary energy resources of her own and has to import all fuel which is converted into energy output. This situation renders the island entirely exposed to the energy world market with its present uncertainties and fluctuations of supplies and prices. As to the past, however, only little of the worldwide energy crisis had been felt. It is true that during the periods between 1971 and 1979 total expenditure on net imports of fuel more than quadrupled (refer to TABLE 1.1). But when relating these figures to the value of total imports it can be noticed that the share of fuel imports in total exports has remained constant at about 5.6 (refer to FIG.1.2 and 1.3). This contrasted favourably to the situation of other developing countries which had to expand a considerable higher share of foreign exchange (30 to 60%) on energy. One of the most effective ways in which Malta managed between 1975 and June 1980 to protect itself in part from the disruptive impact of the increasingly heavy rise in oil prices. Especially at a time when the economy was also gradually weaning itself from the returns derived from the British military presence. Consisted in the provision of oil on concessionary terms from the Libyan Arab Jamahirija. This has enabled the country, so far to supply increasingly the varies kinds of energy without being impaired by the by the soaring prices. It is estimated that during these years the savings on the country’s bill for the oil imports amounted to no less than £M27 million. This amount would have obviously made a very heavy inroad on the balance of payments account and on the country's foreign reserve holdings. The same cannot be said for the years 1980 - 1983. In the economics sphere, the country was exposed to the full brunt of the high prices- prevailing in the world oil market. From which, it had been sheltered up to mid - 1980 by the provision of most of its oil requirements on concessionary terms. In the meantime, Malta has embarked in the exploration for oil around the islands' coastal waters. High expectations are connected with presumed large resources of crude oil. Although these have not yet been verified a dispute with Libya about the rights of exploration began in 1980. A case which was brought up before the International Court in the Hague. In general, the energy policy is clearly subordinated to the objectives of economic· and social development. Besides others, it is for this reason that in Malta we have not as yet come up with a comprehensive master plan, but rather pursue a more adaptive energy planning. This 'is also in line with the general policy, to plan more indicatively rather than to set fixed targets which are to be achieved at all regulatory expenses. As to the present system, in Malta we have been avoiding stern regulatory actions in favour of energy conservation by industrial and private users. Schemes, have to be introduced by government to promote economy and efficiency in the use and consumption of energy. Manipulation of prices can be one of the instruments of policy. Others can be:- i) The subsidy of energy producing activities (or their taxation). ii) A consistent state financed information service, persuasive propaganda, and all means available to raise a public consciousness. iii) The hosting of research and development centres, financed either partly or through international organisations. Designed to generate new capacity for energy production, technical assistance and expertise in industry. iv) The provision of grants for technological developments on the grounds of energy conservation technology which can then have the ideas exploited for local or foreign markets (or maybe interest free: loans for implementation of energy saving policies and programmes). v) Stricter controls on building regulations and building practices. vii) The use· of current technological achievements and/or indulging in the possibility of alternative sources of energy to minimise the use of imported fuel. In the past years in the Maltese island's there has been the tendency for the country to embark on schemes which fall broadly under the five points listed above. It can be said, however, that most of the measures taken have lacked cohesion and the need may be: felt in the future for a more comprehensive attitude towards fixed goals to he established. Some of the schemes that have· flourished in the last 10 years are mentioned below:- i. Schemes that fall under section 1.32(i). Under the fifth agreement between. the Austrian Solar and Space Agency (ASSA) and Enemalta for the establishment and operation of the Austrian Maltese Research Complex (AMRC) signed on Friday 17th October 1980, quote: "All plant and equipment, spares and tools imported into Malta for the establishment- and operation of AMRC shall be allowed duty free entry, provided that they may not be disposed of in Malta without the approval· of the comptroller of customs". ii. Schemes that fall under section l.32(ii) "The gradual appearance of the international crises of the 70's on Malta's' horizons has with time left wide gaps in the Maltese economy. This may have been one of the reasons that around 1973/74 with the soaring prices of oil, and 1979/80, with the closing down of the British military base, that the department of information DOI made a hard campaign for a national effort to make economic use of energy. Printed matter, captions and slogans such as, “Save energy and save money" and "With less consumption you save money", were published on all the Maltese media. Slogans where available free of charge at the DOI, for whoever wished to make use of them, such as industry or commerce. However, although information and slogans are still available at the DOI the advertising campaign has slackened considerably, quite a number of times along the years, even in the recent past, and should be revitalized for concrete results to be felt. Captions and slogans used in the Energy Saving Campaign are shown in Appendix 1. Following this line of action other measures were taken in order that the propaganda could be more persuasive. These included: a. selective pricing policy e.g. different tariff rates in the electrical sector, and different pricings for the refind fuels ; b. systematic switching off of highway lighting (around 1974/75) plus the continuation of a programme for replacing H.P.M.V. lamps with low pressure sodium ; c. restriction in the opening hours of filling stations ; d. the change to summer time, and e. the reduction of energy expensive desalination of sea water through a reverse osmosis plant. iii. Schemes that fall under section l.32(iii). Since 1975, the Maltese government has been engaged in discussions and consultations with the relevant TJ.N. (United Nations) agencies, following initial expert missions with Mediterranean Governments for the establishment of a regional centre devoted to the practical applications of renewable sources of energy. In effect a TJNDP/ UNRP (United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Bnviron11ent Programme) meeting of Government experts was opened at 10.00 a.m. on Monday 9th October, 1978 at the Corinthia Palace San Anton, Malta. An opening address was made by the Hon. Wistin Abela, then Minister of Development, Energy, Port and Telecommunications, on behalf of the Republic of Malta. The goal was never conceived because of limitations of funds to set up the centre. In effect, it was concluded that it would actually be better to strengthen existing ones. Another event which occurred in 1979 was the joint venture between the Government of Malta and the Federal Republic of Germany. The venture was about the possibility of exploiting wind energy on the islands. A study was carried out by the German Agency for technical cooperation, Ltd (GTZ) and the report was presented to the Government in March 1980. However, the project never took ground, because the financial commitments between the two Governments were never agreed upon. Meanwhile in October 1980, an agreement was reached between Austria and Malta for the foundation of a research station for the exploitation and use of solar energy. The centre was set up in the same year at AMRC Marsaxlokk with the responsibility to establish and operate the said centre delegated to ASSA and Enemalta. iv. Schemes that fall under section l.32(Vl). Under this section fall a number of ambitious schemes, which include:- a. The installation and commissioning of the reverse osmosis plant in March 1983. This provides a cheaper way of desalinating Sea Water rather than by distillation. b. The gradual change from oil fired boilers to coal fired boilers at the policy to ensure adequate and reliability of electricity supply and to manoeuvre itself into a flexible position immune to the monopolistic tendencies dictated by the oil market, while taking advantage of the economic benefits occurring from the utilization of a cheaper source of energy. c. The installation of 25 solar conventional type collectors in 1984 at "Haz-Zmien", contributed by Austria and assembled at A.M.R.C. The collectors produce about 5000 litres of hot water per day thus supplementing the existing hot water system which is oil fired. d. Oil exploration around the Maltese island : ‘the countdown to determine the existence or otherwise of petroleum deposits in the offshore areas opened for exploration in 1980 has now started in earnest. There should be neither over-confident expectations nor any dampening of enthusiasm over Malta' s prospects of discovering petroleum in commercial quantities. Also, in accordance with the Goals set out in Section 1.22 part iii b manufaturing entrepreneurs have started setting up and producing items. An example in this direction are the two solar hot water schemes which are manufactured and installed by local companies. i. One branch is manufactured under licence by B.I.M. - The copper absorber unit with a surface area of 8 square feet provides from 8 to 16 gallons of hot water a day at 57°0. The design is very simple. Tanks are available in capacities of 30 to 140 gallons. The inner cylinder is rnanufact1.i.red from mild steel plates, the outer casing is of rustproof galvanized steel sheets. Tank insulation polystyrene granulate. The circulation works by convection and gravity. Additional electric heating is normally supplied by a 1 KW booster if the storage temperature is too small. Systems have been reported working with little maintenance work. ii. Another brand is a Maltese prototype developed for M.D.C. (Malta Development Corporation). The 2 prototype has about 2 ½ m2 collector area, consists of a steel plate with fibreglass and a two plate glass covering. The circulating water above the steel plate is 2 ½ cms, the distance between plate and covering quite large. The storage tank contains 900L with a cold and warm water layer. The heat transport is worked by convection. 'I1he additional geyser heats the water extracted from the storage only if the demanded temperature is not supplied. As a last comment, "not all that glitters is gold" and far from leaving the impression that the problem of energy conservation has been tackled at the roots, there is still a lot to be done. Suffice it to say that a good advertising campaign need to be put into force and should not consist of intermediate actions. Building regulations and building practices should be enhanced. And lastly, to encompass this paragraph, a national energy saving committee should be set up, with the commitment of improving present standards of energy usage. To provide for a code of practice for the different engineering teams and technicians. To be able to show the energy saving progress by annual reports in such a way as to get Malta in line with what other nations are doing to tackle the problem.