Successful car scrapping scheme comes to an end

During a visit to Tar-Robba Recycling Centre, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said that the scheme,funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), was successful and the 3,000 car target was reached.

“As a result of the scheme, more than 2,400 cars out of the 3,000 applications have been removed from the roads and replaced by smaller cars with less emissions,” Fenech said.

The car scrapping scheme was closed once the target had been reached, but will not continue as this was a one-time thing,according to Fenech.

“Government will be introducing new schemes and incentives in a bid to  reduce CO2 emissions, but the car scrapping scheme which financed car owners to buys new cars will not be continued,” Fenech said.

Resources Minister George Pullicino said that reducing carbon dioxide emissions was one of the challenges and priorities undertaken by government,and the scrapping scheme was one of many attempts to do so.

“Just because a scheme was introduced and turned out to be successful, does not necessarily mean that schemes will be continued,because they are intended to serve as a catalyst for environmental improvement,” Pullicino said.

ERDF funds are being used to purchase new technology to dismantle and drain scrapped cars. All chassis numbers are photographed and each part recorded for traceability before parts are exported for recycling.

“The scrapping scheme was implemented to address the emission problem resulting from different forms of transport. We are trying to create a shift in the way transport is largely used in Malta with the aim of reducing emissions,” Pullicino said.

He admitted however, that although the public transport system still has needs improvement, the intention behind the reform was to create a system for mass transport which was clean, efficient and encouraged people to use it rather than using cars.

Another scheme planned to reduce emissions will be the introduction of third generation electric cars, between 2012 and 2013, to the Maltese market.

“50 electric cars will be given to people, including those in the government. This generation of electric car was the first to be shown at the renowned Frankfurt Car Fair and will emit far less than conventional cars but will be just as comfortable as conventional cars and cheaper than second generation electric cars,” Pullicino said.

The Resources Minister said that 100 charging points will be implemented across Malta and Gozo which will be more than necessary because electric cars have an average of 120km range which is much less than any daily trips taken by the average Maltese citizen.

The ministers said that electrical cars will release fewer emissions than normal cars and dismissed suggestions that emissions will be transferred to the power station as a result of charging electrical cars.

Pullicino said that even with the need to charge electrical cars: “Once the Marsa power station is closed and the new power station takes over, it is predicted to reduce total CO2 emissions by 400,000 tonnes,” Pullicino said.