Muscat promises Delimara controversy will not go away

The Labour Party wants explanations on how the same person who chose the new Delimara power plant which will work on heavy fuel advocated the use of gas when chairing the climate change committee.

The issue was raised by Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday in his last press conference of this electoral campaign. He said the decision to go for a new plant that worked on the more polluting heavy fuel was "irresponsible" and promised the controversy would not go away.

"We need to know how this person changed his opinion because the government's climate change strategy (which he penned) clearly says that the power station would need to be run on gas to meet EU emission levels," he said.

Dr Muscat was referring to David Spiteri Gingell, who chairs the climate change committee that drafted the national strategy to deal with the phenomenon.

The government had confirmed that Mr Spiteri Gingell was also a member of the adjudicating panel for the tenders for the new power plant at Delimara.

The contract with the company that won the tender was signed last week.

"Normally, when the government has some positive news it always invites the press to witness a signing ceremony. I cannot understand why this contract was signed behind closed doors," Dr Muscat said.

He also criticised the signing of the contract before an environmental impact assessment was even held.

Dr Muscat used the first part of the press conference to go through a long list of achievements by Labour MEPs and the party's commitments for the next legislature.

As has become customary throughout this campaign, he ended his address by insisting that everyone should vote next Saturday.

"This is a very difficult election for the Labour Party. If you want to give Lawrence Gonzi a message you can do so by voting Labour and those who are disheartened should vote Labour because a new coalition is being born and a new day is dawning," Dr Muscat said.

Mr Spiteri Gingell could not be contacted for his comments.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com