EU Emissions Trading Scheme – Stationary Installations
Operators of large stationary installations that perform certain categories of industrial activities are obliged to comply with the requirements of the EU ETS Directive.
If you are an operator of a stationary installation performing any such activity, please refer to the information on this page on what you need to do to meet your obligations.
Scope – Annex I to the EU ETS Directive
Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC lists the activities and gases that are covered by the EU ETS. The list of activity categories stipulates both the type of the activity and the relevant threshold for each activity, as applicable.
You should always refer to the competent authority in case of any doubts on the interpretation of any activity category listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive or clarifications that you may require on whether or not your installation falls within scope of the Directive.
Permitting of installations
Any installation that performs an activity listed in Annex I that results in emissions specified in the same Annex in relation to that activity must have a greenhouse gas emissions permit issued by MRA.
If you are an operator of an installation performing an activity falling under Annex I, you should apply for a greenhouse gas emissions permit. Check with the Competent Authority for the applicable procedure to apply for this permit.
It is important to note that applying for and being issued a permit under the EU ETS Directive does not release you from acquiring any other relevant permits under other environmental legislation. You should always check with the relevant competent authorities about other permitting requirements.
Allocation for Phase III – 2013 to 2020
For the period 2013-2020 and subsequent periods, the allocation of allowances to stationary installations will be carried out in accordance with harmonized EU-wide rules, involving both auctioning and free allocation on the basis of agreed benchmarks. In principle, electricity generation plants falling within the scope of the EU ETS Directive are not eligible to any free allowances and would necessarily have to acquire allowances to cover compliance needs through auctioning and/or purchase on the emissions trading market.
The respective free allocations for the local installations currently permitted under the scheme are being published in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 2003/87/EC, and are as follows:
|
Installation (permit number) |
Operator of installation |
Annual free allocation to installation |
|
Marsa Power Station (MT-1) |
Enemalta plc |
0 |
|
Delimara Power Station (MT-2) |
Enemalta plc |
0 |
|
DP4 PP (MT-3) |
Electrogas Malta Ltd |
0 |
|
D3 PP (MT-4) |
D3PG Ltd |
0 |
Entitlements of international credits for the years 2008-2020
Article 11a of Directive 2003/87/EC, as implemented through Commission Regulation (EU) No 1123/2013, provides for the determination and publication of international credits entitlements for the period 2008-2020 for stationary installations falling within the scope of the EU ETS.
Consult with the competent authority to check the eligibility for international credits entitlement of your installation.
Allocation for Phase IV, period 2021-2025
For the period 2021-2025, the respective free allocations for the local installations currently permitted under the scheme are as follows:
| Installation (permit number) | Operator of installation | Annual free allocation to installation |
| Marsa Power Station (MT-1) | Enemalta plc | 0 |
| Delimara Power Station (MT-2) | Enemalta plc | 0 |
| DP4 PP (MT-3) | Electrogas Malta Ltd | 0 |
| D3 PP (MT-4) | D3PG Ltd | 0 |
Optional exclusions of installations emitting less than 2,500 tonnes
In accordance with Article 27a of Directive 2003/87/EC, the Maltese Government is excluding Marsa Power Station (MT-1) from the EU ETS by virtue of emitting less than 2 500 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent, in each of the three years 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The exclusion is subject to the following conditions:
- That the operator of the installation retains arrangements for the monitoring of emissions to assess whether the installation emits 2,500 tonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, disregarding emissions from biomass, in any one calendar year, and report annually to the competent authority;
- That if the installation emits 2,500 tonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, disregarding emissions from biomass, in any one calendar year, the installation will be reintroduced into the EU ETS, in accordance with Article 27a, paragraph 2; and,
- The Government of Malta retains the right to revoke, at any time, such exclusion and reintroduce the installation into the EU ETS, in accordance with Article 27a, paragraph 2, even if calendar year emissions are below 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Monitoring of annual emissions
An operator is required to submit to the Competent Authority a monitoring plan describing the means by which annual emissions from the installation will be monitored and reported. The monitoring plan has to be approved by the Competent Authority and will serve as the accepted methodology for monitoring in that installation.
As from 2013, monitoring and reporting requirements are established in Regulation (EU) 601/2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC.
Please contact the competent authority regarding the template to be used to submit the monitoring plan for a stationary installation.
Guidance documents on monitoring and reporting
Common EU guidance on monitoring and reporting may be found in this link.
Reporting of annual emissions
Directive 2003/87/EC provides for an obligation for operators of installations falling within scope of the EU ETS to annually submit verified emission reports – the deadline for submission of each (calendar) year’s report is 31 March of the following year. That is, for the monitoring year X, the emissions report must be submitted by not later than 31 March of year X+1.
Reports shall be verified by a competent, independent, accredited verifier before being submitted to the Competent Authority. Verification of annual emissions reports and accreditation of verifiers for EU ETS purposes are regulated by Regulation (EU) 600/2012 on the verification of greenhouse gas emission reports and tonne-kilometre reports and the accreditation of verifiers pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC. A verification report issued by the verifier must accompany the emissions report when this is submitted to the Competent Authority. Please consult with the competent authority regarding the template for the submission of annual emission reports and the verification report template.
Guidance documents on verification and accreditation
Common EU guidance on verification and accreditation may be found in this link.
Accounting for emissions
For information on accounting of emissions and the registry system, please click on the link.
Contacting the competent authority:
For further information on matters relating to the EU ETS, you may contact MRA at: emissions_trading_scheme@mra.org.mt