The Malta Resources Authority is a public corporate body set up in 2000 through the Malta Resources Act originally to regulate water, energy and mineral resources, to promote energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy, and with responsibilities in the areas of oil exploration and climate change.
The Regulator for Energy and Water Services Act, 2015, changed the MRA’s responsibilities significantly. Grant schemes for domestic PV, domestic wells (bjar), solar water heaters and roof insulation, and swimming pool licences, electrician’s or wireman’s Licence A or Licence B, Enemalta, Water Services Corporation, water tankers or bowsers and fuel regulation are among the functions of the new regulator established under the Regulator for Energy and Water Services – REWS. The REWS may also be contacted on 22955000.
Energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy, the water framework regulations (inland waters) and protection of groundwater are among the functions of the Energy and Water Agency.
Climate change
The Authority is responsible for climate change reporting and operation of the emission trading schemes. Further details are given in the relative pages.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
The Malta Resources Authority is designated by law as the national GHG Inventory Agency for the country, thus being responsible for the annual compilation of Malta’s GHG inventory. The inventory is submitted to the European Commission and to the UNFCCC Secretariat, and is subject to separate annual reviews by expert review teams in accordance with EU legislation and with UNFCCC decisions.
The MRA’s work in respect of GHG inventories includes deciding on the methodologies for the estimation of emissions and removals, gathering the necessary activity data for all relevant activities, performing the necessary calculations, compiling the results into the approved reporting format and preparing a detailed written report that presents the approaches used for each activity category.
The most recent GHG Inventory for Malta (2020 submission covering the time-series 1990-2018), including the written National Inventory Report (NIR) and the detailed Common Reporting Format (CRF) tables may be accessed at the EIONET page for 2020 GHG Inv submission.
Emissions Trading
The Authority is responsible for the operation of the emissions trading schemes referred to as the EU ETS and CORSIA.
Resources
Groundwater
The MRA is responsible for the notification of groundwater sources, supervision of the metering of boreholes. Changes to the use or users of groundwater sources need to be submitted to the MRA.
Minerals
The administration of licences to quarry and sell stone fall under the responsibility of the MRA.