Government, opposition argue on gas bottling plant

Gasco Energy Ltd, the company which will be taking over the Enemalta gas division, will be paying €1.9 million over 33 years as groundrent for a site in Benghajsa where it will build its gas bottling plant, while it will receive €3 million over the coming three years for using the current gas bottling plant at Qajjenza, the MLP spokesman on utility services, Charles Buhagiar, said this morning.

He said when speaking at Kirkop that the opposition agreed on the transfer of the gas bottling plant from Qajjenza to Benghajsa but could not vote for the resolution moved in parliament last week because it provided no safeguards for consumers, Mr Buhagiar said. He pointed out that gas prices were set to rise, but the government was unable to say by how much.

Meanwhile, the government in a statement said that contrary to what was claimed by Labour MP Jose’ Herrera in Parliament, all the site at Benghajsa being transferred to the company is state-owned.