Opposition motion condemns minister on power station contract
The Opposition has given notice of a motion in Parliament condemning Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt over the award of the Delimara power station extension contract and calling on the Prime Minister to remedy matters.
The motion recognises the need for the governemnt to raise power generating capacity but it condemns the minister for:
* Allowing the power capacity situation to deteriorate to the extent that Malta may suffer power cuts if demand exceeds supply;
* Selecting plant equipment from BWSC based on combined cycle diesel technology after having raised the legal emission thresholds;
* Choosing equipment which would need additional spending of €24 million so that it could be converted to gas operation, when equipment which did not need such conversion was available;
*Choosing equipment which would produce at least 31 tons of toxic waste per day along with a ton of oil sludge per day, with the disposal costs that were involved;
* Choosing equipment which would cause so much pollution that it would require emission control equipment which in this case was still in prototype stage and thus could pose a health risk to neighbours;
* Choosing equipment which would occupy much of the limited space at Delimara;
* Choosing equipment whose operating costs would be higher than gas operations, thus forcing an increase in power tariffs.
The motion describes the tender adjudication process as having been 'contaminated' and expresses serious doubts over how the final choice was made.
21 Comments
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Joe Micallef
Sep 20th 2009, 11:43
This motion is welcome so that us commoners can be sure that the best choice has been made after taking into considertation all aspects.
The outcome to this should be simple - either the resignation of whoever is responsible for the decision up to the relative minister or the resignation of the leader of the opposition and an investigation to shed light on why he chose to promote the interests of a commercial company!
joanna farrugia
Sep 20th 2009, 06:37
@ manuel lia pl is not against this project but against the way its going to work.as usual pn twist words and facts as they like so in ppl eyes they are "l-imsieken".mur gib dan kollhu ghamlu l pl hux manuel lia u hallina!!!
J Camilleri
Sep 19th 2009, 23:43
Enemalta have issued a defence statement, in part of it it stated that all the bidders could have objected or said something during the ajudication period, so my qestion is did the gas turbine suppliers knew about the double deals that were under the tables? Whom are exectly by name the adjudication members? Are or were they every related in some point in time with this intermedry person an ex enemalta employee? did that information come out from the original tender to arrive at vwsc to tailor make the tender to suit the terms?
My second line of questions might also be of great interest to the general public. I heard in the hive that a considerable ammount of meters ( not the smart once) were ordered in view of the new smart meters beng introduced. Is this true?
if so how much were ordered? how much did they cost in total ( the smart meters already startred being installed) so if this is true why were they ordered?
Is it normal practice that enemalta recycles it's meters when they are short of meters? why was this practice wasn't used in view of the new smart meters scheme?
Simon Cassar
Sep 19th 2009, 18:39
@ R Spiteri
Mud slinging??!!!! Mistra case, Bharija case, Voice of Mediterranean??? ax ma tghidx li tant hawn korruzzjoni go dal pajjiz li kollox jibqa ghaddej qisu xejn mhu xejn!.
Lura ghas-suggett.
1. It is pretty obviuos that diesel creates much more pollution than gas.
2. So why did the government changed his original plans??
3. If ALL THE WORLD is changing to gas (or nuclear) why do we have to use a third world country project. The prime minister always mentions two countries- Cyprus and Corsica - so what? Is the powerstation in corsica going to be near villages and towns??
K Gauci
Sep 19th 2009, 15:36
@ J Farrugia
What's wrong in presenting a motion in Parliament?
Pierre Mangion
Sep 19th 2009, 15:14
Following this matter on the articles posted on various papers over the last few months one would seriously question why the diesel technology was chosen over the gas alternative, when the equipment is more expensive, when the costs of cleaning are dearer and the fuel costs more prone to fluctuate. It seems that despite the financial crisis within the coffers, the "money no problem" attitude only exists for certain projects.
manuel lia
Sep 19th 2009, 15:02
here we go again....against a new power station re 1989.....unbeilavable....against everything...
Anthony a. Mifsud
Sep 19th 2009, 14:22
@ J farrugia,
Seams to me that you're happy with the situation.
So with your way of reasoning all is clear, and the PL have it all wrong
Hallini
Rocco Cauchi
Sep 19th 2009, 14:18
This is a money motion which could bring the government down.
The accusations are blatant and there does not seem to be any plausible defence against them. So what about a humble apology and reversing all decisions to more sensible, timely and cost effective ones?
Simply remember, hard-headedness brought down the Labour government in 1998 after i8 months in power. There was a time when fences could have been repaired, at the beginning of the crisis, but wisdom lacked to prevail.
We are exactly in the same situation now and the 18 months will be up in December.
Shall wisdom prevail this time? I think not. The Nationalists are wonderful demolition experts in opposition but none of good architects when it comes to bowing down their heads before hard facts which most believe present hard evidence.
Remember, people are dead set against obstinacy, pride and waste, even if they do not show it in their vote for lack of a better choice!
So unless this issue is mended urgently and with humility, it will definitely go down in history as this government's Achilles' heel - oh what a wasteful way to go down!
George Vella
Sep 19th 2009, 13:39
The sad thing about this issue is that we don't know who to believe.
Politics in Malta has become a pathetic point scoring exercise which always leaves the people of Malta as the losers. Shame on every single one of you politicians for your opportunistic mudslinging at our expense.
Personally I believe that the only remedy is not to vote for either of them red, blue, green etc and so they may actually try and earn your vote rather than relying on the hope that your are a lobotomised, brainwashed baboon who votes out of what they disgustingly call 'party loyalty'.
C Calleja
Sep 19th 2009, 13:36
Dear J Farrugia,
This case is already being investigated by the auditor general.
Next time check facts please.
Colin Camilleri
Sep 19th 2009, 13:28
Scandalous to say the least. The present administration lost no time in increasing Electricity Bills, slapping extortionate Surcharges on the utility tariffs, increasing taxes on property transactions and the 350€ fee for an electrical meter installation! Where did those "taxes" go? Why didn't the government invest that money that came from those utility taxes in upgrading the power station, the service and the efficiency? Why must it happen in Malta?
Only in Malta and under the PN.....
M Micallef
Sep 19th 2009, 13:28
Not corruption J Farrugia, simply incompetence and gross stupidity.
P.Cassar
Sep 19th 2009, 13:10
@ J Farrugia
You talk like a true nationalist. You say part of the truth because the whole truth is AGAINST you.
Why do you try to deceive the public by saying the the PL can go to the Public Accounts Comm., when you well know that there are 3 nationalist votes to 2 labour votes.
Alex Agius
Sep 19th 2009, 13:01
Submarine cables would give us less pollution with greater capacity at a cheaper price.
http://maltagc.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/electrical-power-generation/
R Spiteri
Sep 19th 2009, 12:50
Same old rethoric by Labour...mud slinging...mud slinging ....creating doubts about everything....so bored and fed up of such attitude...please get that promised earthquake done and start thinking out of the box Joseph Muscat....you're simply repeating what Alfred Sant used to do.....
Joe Mizzi....if you really love this country, and if your leader really loves our beloved Malta, please tell us where the oil is...and we won't need all this hassle!
R. Caruana
Sep 19th 2009, 12:44
What a waste of time!!!
As if it's going to change something!
Horace Mizzi
Sep 19th 2009, 12:44
This motion should bring out to the fore Minister Gatt's streak of haughty arrogance. No doubt he'll give the other members of parliament on both sides a lecture on his superior knowledge on power stations, combined cycle diesel technology, emission control equipment, toxic waste and tender procurements.. And Dr Gonzi and his fellow party die-hards will open their mouth in awe at the extent of this fountain of knowledge. And everybody will live happily ever after.
Ernest Vella
Sep 19th 2009, 12:43
always better than Marsa...much better
J Farrugia
Sep 19th 2009, 12:29
Looking forward to this debate. If Labour has any proof of corruption it knows where it should go with it. Handit over to their mate Charles Mangion of the Public Accounts committee, or do they also have no confidence in their own ex Deputy Leader???
Mario Attard
Sep 19th 2009, 12:19
Simply scandalous !!
But at least we've got the 34U campaign. Yeah right !