Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday said he supported the Government’s plans to go for wind farms but questioned why it had taken 25 years to opt for this “obvious” idea.
“When it comes to the energy sector, the big difference between the two parties is credibility: GonziPN is not credible on energy because it consistently took the wrong decisions, especially over the past five years, most notably with the decision to opt for the BWSC power station,” Dr Muscat said.
Speaking on One radio, Dr Muscat referred to plans recently announced by the Prime Minister to let households invest in solar farms when their homes do not allow them to invest in solar panels.
“I am not mocking the idea of solar farms. It is a good idea. But why was it not thought about before? It was the most obvious idea. Instead, the Government opted for wind farms, but this resulted in another failure,” he said, speculating that the feasibility studies of the wind farms had not produced the desired results.
Dr Muscat said Labour’s energy policy was “clear” and its main thrust was that Malta could not remain dependent on oil prices. He said the Government did not take the Opposition’s advice to opt for a cleaner form of energy in gas.
Dr Muscat also referred to a report issued by the European Commission last week which indicated that energy prices would continue to rise next year.
The report, he said, exposed the Government’s plans to continue increasing electricity tariffs after the election. The European Commission did not take into account a possible administration change and based its comments on feedback it must have received from members of the Government, he said.
He admitted the report also painted a “positive” picture of the economy, especially regarding the deficit, even though he insisted that Malta only managed to rein in the deficit thanks to “unsustainable” measures like cutting capital expenditure.
Dr Muscat said that Labour would opt for a “consistent and reliable energy mix” of conventional and more innovative types of energy while continuing to help families invest in solar panels which, he said, would make more sense if bills were cheaper, though he did not explain how.
He said he was convinced a Labour Government would meet Malta’s EU energy targets despite the island having fallen back in the past few years.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry said the European Commission’s report had dispelled Labour’s promise to reduce electricity rates by clearly showing that this was impossible due to international energy prices.
Dr Muscat’s promise would translate into more taxes, the ministry said adding that it was not true the Government was planning another energy hike.