Labour's water and electricity proposals would lead to 'higher taxes'
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Labour’s plans for a reduction in water and electricity rates would fail and lead to higher debts which would have to be paid through higher taxes or tariffs, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said this afternoon.
Addressing a news conference, Mr Fenech said DNV Kema’s recommendation confirmed that a gas pipeline as proposed by the government was cheaper than Labour's proposal.
The PL’s proposals, unveiled last Tuesday, would mean another €200 million at least would be required for infrastructure to be built in Malta. The PL said the proposed plant was estimated at €166 million, but in 2009, Bateman’s tender offer with the same technology was of €186 million for a smaller 150 MW plant.
The cost would, therefore, be closer to €240 million. Additionally, Labour also failed to account for the costs related to the acquisition of tankers, and other infrastructure. Mr Fenech pointed out that Labour’s imagery conveniently failed to show the true size of the storage tanks required.
To cover the capability of the gas tanks being proposed, two to three vessels would have to be dedicated to this operation, built purposely for this 25-year project. These vessels would cost at least €50 million each.
Moreover, no maritime study was carried out to see if a ship would be able to berth with the available infrastructure.
A jetty would probably also have to be built and this was estimated to cost around €50 million.
Labour’s proposal cost closer to €600 million rather than the €370 million the party was claiming. This cost more than the government's interconnector and extension and yet, the PL wanted the people to believe they would reduce the rates, Mr Fenech said.
The minister said that standard power purchase agreements did not provide for a price guarantee for 10 years and an agreement which did provide for such a guarantee would be far more expensive than Labour was claiming.
He said that in the past 10 years the cost of gas had shot up in line with the price of oil. He noted that estimates that Labour would generate electricity at 9c6 per unit did not come from their consultants' report. Labour refused to say how they got to this figure or what the energy mix was going to be.
It was a figure Labour's energy expert Konrad Mizzi came up with without saying how.
The government had been wanting to opt for gas for a long time but all studies carried out had shown that this was not viable.
The government remained committed to give the people the cheapest possible energy in a sustainable way.
The minister said that the timeframes given for the implementation of the Labour's proposal were also unrealistic. Labour was proposing to cut tariffs years before their project could materialise.
Moreover, Labour’s proposal isolated Malta from the EU, which wanted the whole union to be joined with gas pipelines in one united grid.
Since the EU knew that Malta and Cyprus were cut off from the mainland, it had accepted to help financially.
Labour’s project would not receive EU assistance because it breached European strategy even though it was more expensive than the government’s option.
Mr Fenech said that the government had today also published, on the Finance Ministry’s website, all gas studies it had carried out.
Labour’s proposal was a gimmick the same way its proposal to remove VAT in 1996 had been.
The minister's presentation can be read in the pdf link below.
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johann spiteri
Jan 13th, 12:17
The Minister said :- that standard power purchase agreements did not provide for a price guarantee for 10 years and an agreement which did provide for such a guarantee would be far more expensive than Labour was claiming.
Statoil is saying :- http://www.statoil.com/en/NewsAndMedia/News/2012/Pages/20Nov_Wintershall.aspx
Inti lil min temmen lil Dr Tonio Fenech jew lil Statoil. Decizjoni F'idejk
Eddy Privitera
Jan 12th, 09:08
This is the man responsible for a good part of the mess Enemalta finds itself in. And has allowed so many thousands of people living around the Marsa Power Station and the Delimara one, to suffer the heath hazards resulting in a very high incidence of asthma and lung cancer ! Who can trust Tonio Fenech to do any better next time !
George Lewis
Jan 11th, 10:34
Donnu li din l'elezzjoni qed tkun miggielda fuq xejn aktar hlief it-tariffi tad-dawl u l-ilma.Hlief dibattiti fuq hekk m'ahniex nisimghu fuq kull stazzjon.Donnu ma jezisti xejn aktar ta mportanza.
Nahseb li slogan tajjeb ikun 'Elezzjoni ,Dawl u Ilma'.
George Lewis
Jan 11th, 10:03
Donnu li din l'elezzjoni qed tkun miggielda fuq xejn aktar hlief it-tariffi tad-dawl u l-ilma.Hlief dibattiti fuq hekk m'ahniex nisimghu fuq kull stazzjon.
Nahseb li slogan tajjeb ikun 'Elezzjoni ,Dawl u Ilma'.
pat muscat
Jan 11th, 08:08
We've had gas storage at Qajjenza for ages and the track record was second to none; the same with petrol storage at B'zebbuga and these petrol tanks are in the middle of a residential area? Can the Minister come with anything better rather puerile scaremongering that the tanks can explode?
Edward Mallia
Jan 11th, 09:14
The problem is that another Minister (George Pullicino) and another "STUDY" (reported in the Proposal for a National Energy Policy) asserted that an LNG terminal backed by a 60,000m3 storage would be the most feasible option. Was Min. Fenech trying to scare Min. Pullicino? Can Min. Fenech spare a very few words from his "niagara falls" presentations to give us poor sods a credible answer?
Edward Mallia
Jan 11th, 09:22
On second thoughts Min. Fenech may be right after all. The panic which gripped Enemalta on the occasion of the Mercaptan leak at Qajjenza, the hurried transfer to and burning of Mercaptan on the vast steppe of Bahrija, the barrage of lies, the passing of bucks, the "denials" of ministers, chairmen, MEPAs and other officials, indicate clealrly that we would not be able to cope with an LNG leak.
Noel Damato
Jan 11th, 07:14
I am still waiting for the GonziPN proposals and a clear statement why BWSC failor not to function although bought from the yellow pages, the 800million plus deficit and miss managment in EneMalta.
Julian Borg
Jan 11th, 06:35
The same people who believed the VAT gimmick have fallen for the private power station in addition to our own more efficient one gimmick. What hope for this country?
C Busuttil
Jan 11th, 03:09
Electricity bills under this Government are a "TAX In Disguise"
Alla li jista kollox issa wara hames snin u ghax il-labour hareg bi proposta tajba, IL-Pn ukoll ghandu proposta huwa. Mela x'kontu qed taghmlu f'dawn il-hames snin ? reqdin le tiehdu z-zieda minn wara dar kulhadd.
NO VOTE you do not deserve it u x'jimpurtani jekk jirbah il-labour
John Caruana
Jan 11th, 02:30
P.N. Komplu dejjem bezzghu bil-babaw
Charles Muscat
Jan 11th, 01:38
The electricity and water bill topic is a very stupid issue for anyone who try to capitalize from it. In Australia we are petrified to flick a light switch and the price of gas changes everyday. Any government can reduce these bills but will end up with a bigger crater in the budget.
Jean Karl De Bono
Jan 11th, 00:15
By his own standards, I expect minister Tonio Fenech to make public all the technical and professional studies and calculations he must have carried out to come to his conclusions on the Labour proposal.
victor ellul
Jan 11th, 00:05
simon fuq bondi plus qal li l.linterconnector se jkun lest fi zmien sena u l.pipe line fi zmien sentejn veru jew kellu xi lapsus? nahseb li ma jafx x,habat mieghu.
pat muscat
Jan 10th, 23:32
Just saw Simon -with the blatant help of Mr Bondi-trying to rubbish Pl's energy project. Unbelievable, everything negative. Bondi never asks why we pay the second highest bills in Europe; why we have to use the toxic heavy fuel oil. Gonzi is in panic and today GonziPn has agreed that unless it shoot Pl's proposal down they will loose the election.
Mr Joseph Bartolo
Jan 10th, 23:06
Please look through this fellow Maltese citizens www.zpenergy.com this a solution that be the cheapest and cleanest sort of energy on and off the planet we call our home. :)
Mr Adrian Zahra
Jan 10th, 22:32
hon tonio fenech please ieqaf tinsulenta l intelligenza tieghi u tghid illi biex ingibu il gas Malta ahna irridu nibnu il vapuri taghna. Please. Grazzik
Mr Adrian Zahra
Jan 10th, 22:23
hon tonio fenech please ieqaf tinsulenta l intelligenza tieghi u tghid illi biex ingibu il gas Malta ahna irridu nibnu il vapuri taghna. Please. Grazzi
Peppi Borg
Jan 10th, 21:19
I am still waiting for Gonzipn's plans for energy! I think I will be left waiting! Will gonzipn reduce utility rates? Tonio Fenech would have made a better figure if he had explained to us about the pewerstation that doesn't work.
John Zammit
Jan 10th, 21:15
Instead of keep shoot in different direction You had better locked yourself and the elcons of the party and come out with a simple answer. Not a different four in in less than 3 days
marius mifsud
Jan 10th, 21:06
i live at m'xlokk! i invite people who visit our monti every sunday to have a walk towards the powerstation. when we get near where the playing used to be and further towards delimara you will smell a horrible smell of burning oil. this has drastically increased recently. when i contucted enemalta pr office they told me that the BWSC oil heater will soon be relocated further inside the station
Anthony Mizzi
Jan 10th, 20:36
Labour's water and electricity proposals would lead to 'higher taxes' - HAVE WE BEEN GETTING ANYTHING ELSE LATELY??????
Was it Minister Tonio Fenech's bill with a "0" balance that Dr. Lawrence Gonzi flaunted on Xarabank?
They are just not like the rest of us and have not experienced 'higher taxes', just €600 SALARY RISES!
Joe M Borg
Jan 11th, 05:49
Those who got PN's/EU's generous financial support to install PV systems are getting '0' balance, or at least, near zero, depending on their lifestryle. And there are 6,000 who saw sense in this scheme, and invested. So it's NOT only Tonio who has a '0' balance. Now your Joseph has woken up to the fact that Malta might one day have PV energy. It has been here for years, thanks to PN, Joseph!
Jo Borg
Jan 10th, 19:23
Fenech's critique of the Labour plan boils down to 2 arguments: namely, that by his calculations, the project would cost more and take longer to finish. The fact is, EVERYTHING would cost more and take longer if (God forbid) Malta were to be governed by the PN again. That is why under PN rule, Malta's economy went to the dogs and we have been burdened with 5 BILLION Euro debt. Shame!!!
Joe M Borg
Jan 11th, 05:54
Yes, and Joseph wants to add 600,000,000 to Malta's debts! He didn't even have the money to pay for a serious study by experts, and all this plan is pure guesswork. They 'forgot' to include the expence of transporting gas by ship to Malta. Or probably they found a 'volunteer' willing to bring it free of charge. And with a gas pipeline already planned, WHO needs ships for gas? Imagination!
Steven Smith
Jan 11th, 08:07
what planet do you live on? Malta economy is one of the healthiest in europe !
Peter Paul Farrugia
Jan 11th, 08:47
@Steven Smith
Sure Mr Smith, and it was even healthier when PN took over the govermnet after Dom Mintoff, little or NO National Debt !... plus the comparison is being made to countries such as Spain and Greece... does'nt look so healthy after you take these factors into consideration ...
Charles Massa
Jan 10th, 19:20
JM Busuttil
Il poplu mhux se jemmen il figuri li ghamel il ministru. Dan huwa ministru li qatt ma zamm mat targets tieghu innfisu. Jekk ghandek memorja tajba jew jekk kont Malta fi 2008, dan l istess ministru kien wieghed budget surplus sa 2010. Jekk tara l figuri tal gvern , morna zmerc ghax id dejn kompla jizdied u spiccajna inhalsu interessi fuq id dejn aktar milli ninvestu fis sahha etc
Joe M Borg
Jan 11th, 05:58
Charles. Jekk INTI ghandek memorja, m'hemmx ghalfejn tkun tajba hafna (!), fl-2008 kien hawn il-credit crunch, LI MA KISSRITX LIL MALTA, bhal Cipru, li tant ihobb Joseph! Dwar il-figuri tal-PL, 'insew' izidu l-ispiza tal-vapuri biex iwasslu l-gas. Forsi sabu lil min iwassalulhom b'xejn?? Insew ukoll li se jkun hawn pipeline tal-gas, SPONSORJAT mill-EU, u m'ghandniex bzonn il-vapuri ta' Joseph!
Eddy Privitera
Jan 10th, 18:59
Kull ma qal Tonio Fenech sarlu duhha bir- risposti li tah Konrad Mizzi il-lejla waqt Konferenza Stampa. Kull min segwa dik il-Konferenza Stampa seta jinduna l.mod ghaqli kif gie ppjanat il-progett tal-PL. U kemm Tonio Fenech qieghed biss jipprova jbezza bil-babaw !
Joseph Camilleri
Jan 10th, 23:39
Dream on eddie privitera dream on I prefer the pipe line than a bomb in marsa xlokk
mela issa il power station saret tajba? kemm ghamiltu hgejjeg? issa tar kollox mar rih? Ara vera partit tal lejber biddiltu kollox barra il mentalita!
Joe M Borg
Jan 11th, 06:02
Eddie. Kull min segwa l-konfer. stampa MA RAX ir-rapporti tal-esperti li qabbad il-PL! L-espert Konrad 'nesa' jinkludi l-ispiza tat-trasport tal-vapuri. Forsi ghandi xi habib li se jgibulu b'xejn?? Forsi PL qed jibzghu mill-babaw, ghax s'issa ghadhom ma tfaccawx ir-rapporti serji li suppost saru. Kulma qal Joseph, hu li se jibghatlek ufficjal fil-familja jaralek il-fridge, shower, washroom!
Daniel Dimech
Jan 10th, 18:36
Press conference fuq proposta tal- Pl naraha naqra sitwazzjoni tal biki biex il GM wasal sa hawn !!! mhux ahjar ghamel press conference fuq xi haga tal partit tieghu
Charles Massa
Jan 10th, 18:21
U kif wasal ghal dawn il figuri il ministru. Jista jippublika l istudju li ghamel. U meta Labour ilu snin biex hareg bil proposti u iltaqa man nies, Tonio Fenech f anqas minn gimgha studja ir rapport, analizzah u hareg bil figuri. Kieku il PN kien efficjenti daqs Tonio Fenech kieku qieghdin ahjar. Imma hanqa ta hmar qatt ma telet is semgha
jm busuttil
Jan 10th, 18:45
@ Charles Massa
If you are commenting you must have seen the press conference and you would have obviously seen all the documents presented ( not the one above) and they should also be on the Ministry web site.
This time around il-hanqa ta' hmar has been heard from your end.
Joe M Borg
Jan 11th, 06:06
Charles Pl ilu snin jistudja, u ma ndunax li l-pipeline tal-gas tal-PN se jkun sponsorjat mill-EU! Dak studju! U nsew ukoll jinkludu l-ispiza tat-trasport tal-gas, (meta se jkollna pipeline u m'hemmx bzonn DAWN IL-VAPURI). Dak studju! U kienu gergru ghax il-power station kbir. Issa se jkun ikbr. Dak studju! Fejnu Tony Zarb? Mhux jinkwieta li l-kumpanija gdida tista tnaqqas il-haddiema?
Emanuel Curmi
Jan 10th, 18:15
I am sure that Minister Fenech is talking from experience. Take the Mater Dei Project as an example. A fraction of the extra costs over the calculated budget to finish the hospital would have covered this project twice over. Yes, I reckon Mr. Fenech does indeed know what he is talking about...
R Abela
Jan 10th, 18:04
Hanqa ta hmar qatt ma telghat is sema.
M Grima
Jan 10th, 17:56
My vote will go to that party which is trying to unite this divided country of ours. I have always been a floater but I just cannot endure the lies coming from the PN. But, what strikes me most is the arrogance of GonziPN who find absolutely nothing good in what the PL does. Dr. Muscat even had time to praise Independence and entry to the EU., something which has made me decide who to vote for.
H. Meilak
Jan 10th, 23:49
There are floating voters and there are others....who pretend to be floating voters.
Brendon Borg
Jan 11th, 02:24
Divided country.....are you serious?
zammit o
Jan 10th, 17:47
The problem with Tonio Fenech is that he is judging Labour's proposal by his own standards
M Grima
Jan 10th, 17:39
I have had the misfortune of listening to Tonio Fenech's inaccuracies about the PL's energy proposals for these last two days. What is even more bizarre is the fact that he understands nothing about generation and distribution of energy, so much so that a certain Dr.Mizzi was gleefully playing with the accountant on an area which exposed his limited resources. He can only fiddle with the numbers!!
M Borg
Jan 10th, 22:57
I hope you know that in this case it is the " numbers " which are important not the " pictures "
Get the numbers wrong and we have to pay for them !!
James Sultana
Jan 10th, 17:29
If according to Tonio Fenech the studies show that gas is not viable, why did his government just issue calls for a FEASABILITY STUDY to convert the power station to gas at an estimated cost of ONE MILLION EURO ? If what he published today states that it is not viable and he is using it to shoot down PLs proposal for the future , then there is no need for another study.
G. Cachia
Jan 10th, 17:16
Nispera li ma jergghax ikollna xi rizenja ohra mill-PL qabel l-ellezzjoni. Ghax waqt il-prezentazzjoni ta' Conrad Mizzi dwar il-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma ma tantx innutajna ucuh bi tbissima minn dawk ta' madwaru.
R Abela
Jan 10th, 18:23
mr cachia wara l'elezzjoni ha jkun hemm hafna rizenji u ma hemmx ghalfejn nghidlek mil lima partit ha jkunu.
john muscat
Jan 10th, 18:56
Wara l-elezzjoni lewwel li jirrezinja nahseb li jkun Dr. Gonzi min kap tal PN, u jsir Dr. Busuttil.
Jean Karl De Bono
Jan 10th, 17:13
Minister Fenech would better deliver another press conference to explain if it was David Copperfield from Disneyland who made it possible for his government to be in a position to reduce the water and electricity bills since yesterday as until Tuesday this was absolutely out of question. I think not even Harry Houdini will make them escape from the mess they got into!!
r c zammit
Jan 10th, 17:10
SAFETY is definitly an issue. Also from Wikipedia: In 2004, 19 January, Skikda, Algeria. Explosion at Sonatrach LNG liquefaction facility. 27 killed, 56 injured, three LNG trains destroyed, 2004 production was down 76% for the year. A steam boiler that was part of a liquefaction train exploded triggering a massive hydrocarbon gas explosion.
Mario Buhagiar
Jan 10th, 18:19
petrol can catch fire as well and cause an explosion. should we shut down all petrol stations? I agree that petrol stations within buildings should be closed, however they are still open! and that's by far more dangerous than a powerstation away from buildings. Also, heavy fuel oil is also extremely dangerous as it produces toxic and carcinogens (gases that can cause cancer).
r c zammit
Jan 10th, 17:07
There is also the question of SAFETY. From Wikipedia:
".. many new LNG terminals are being contemplated in the United States. Concerns over the safety of such facilities has created extensive controversy in the regions where plans have been created to build such facilities. "
Roberto Fenech
Jan 10th, 17:00
It would have been IRRESPONSIBLE for the PN to use the possible reduction in electricity tariffs from the gas pipeline as an election gimmick as gas prices are unknown for the next years.
Unlike Labour, they are assuming too much on their new plan - price of gas remains the same, political stability in Russia (gas producer) etc etc - Just a vote catching, halve baked proposal.
Chris Agius
Jan 10th, 17:00
This is the record of the energy sector under PN rule.The ex-financial controller of Enemalta, severely beaten up.A new power station which defaced Marsaxlokk and operating with technology condemned by E.U. environmental regulations.Enemalta now owes millions of euros And to cap it all, we still have regular power cuts and rates are among the highest in the E.U. A "shocking" performance Tonio!
Adrian Borg
Jan 10th, 16:59
Mr Joe Falzon
Yes, I am serious if gas can be transported to Malta in a Pipeline how can it not be transported from a terminal to the Power Station. I am certain that your maritime knowledge is very limited to state that Gas carriers are not a common type of ship.
Mr Joe Vella
I never did say that there will be no cost but for a Minister to write it off outright is unheard of.
Eddy Privitera
Jan 10th, 16:59
Tonio Fenech is the last person to give cost estimates of projects. Or predictions of deficits and national debt projections ! Itv is obvious GonziPN has only one aim- to discredit ALL plans or projects announce by the PL. This is due to the desperate political situation GonziPN finds itself in ! While it is still not saying one word about its own plans !
Joseph Sammut
Jan 10th, 16:50
We know what your taxes and price hikes are. Stop scare mongering.
Joseph Bajada
Jan 10th, 16:49
A simple majority of the maltese entrusted the PN into power in 2008. We all know what the experts and jack of all trades did?
a) are you better off with BWSC power station?
b) are you better off with Arriva?
c) are you better off with the Brazilian company?
d) are you better off with the fairmount scandal?
e) are you better off with the open air theatre?
f) are you better off with Mater Dei?
Roberto Fenech
Jan 10th, 17:06
WE are better off off in
1) Employment
2) Education
3) Care for the elderly
4) Environemnt and open spaces
5) Tourism
6) Social Services
7) Better Beaches
8) Best country to retire
9) better choice of products for the consumer
10) travelling through low cost airlines
11) Better roads
12) Better IT services
13) Economy in general
Bizzejjed Sur Bajada???
Mario Buhagiar
Jan 10th, 18:09
@ Robert Fenech
1) Mintoff made more employment than any other PM. Including air malta, sea malta, BOV, hundreds of factories, tarzna, dockyard..
2) Mintoff was the one who got stipends and free education
3) care was taken for the elderly since Mintof times
4) this gas powerstation is the true safeguard for air env.
5) tourism dropped except cruise liners
6)Mintoff made 80% of social services
Mario Buhagiar
Jan 10th, 18:11
@ R. Fenech
7) PN wanted to build a wind farm in ghadira bay!
8) i think its the path way of both PN and PL governments which led to this
9) we are in the EU so trade is open
10) low cost airlines destroyed our company : Air Malta
11) ok (thanks to EU funds)
12) PL never had the chance to do anything with IT since its a new service
13) we got in a recession in the past few years so..
Emanuel Curmi
Jan 10th, 18:27
Dear Mr. Fenech After 25 years one can only progress but don't you think that many of the items you have mentioned have their foundation from a previous administration. I defer from your Environment and Open spaces though. Thanks to this administration the abysmal track record of our environmental credentials has reached a new low ebb while open spaces have long been lost to the building cartel
David Bezzina
Jan 10th, 16:41
Up to a few months ago,PN stated that is impossible to reduce the electricity tariffs.Suddenly,it is possible.The PN panic button has definetely been activated.
Steven Brockwell
Jan 10th, 16:32
one thing everyone left out is( if the new price per unit 9.6 cents does include the so called new companys profit at 8 %, when this is sold to ene malta what would be ene malta s mark up, or are they going to distribute the electricity for fee??? don't think so.
Adrian Borg
Jan 10th, 16:32
Mr Denis Pace
My comments were food for thought, to be taken by those who have an open mind and see all the options available
Kenneth Williams
Jan 10th, 16:30
Ma nistax nifhem kif l AD qed tiskuza lil gvern fuq HFO ghax irhis mela dawn ma ghadhomx ma GREENS. Dawn ghad hom ma indumawx li l Labour qieghed fuq in naha taghhom rigward l energija.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 16:37
MLP promise is not feasible because it is a promise made on behalf of others who will not want to deliver and who have no obligation to do so. If you are transferring responsibility for power supply to the private sector, you can’t tell the private sector how to price what it is selling.
Mario Spiteri
Jan 10th, 16:27
Well done Tonio.In a masterly way,you have surgically dissected the remains of this Master Bubble of the PL Energy Plan that JM has now overblown to ridiculous proportions such that it came to pieces within a few hours of its long-awaited announcement.The only redeeming feature after all this PL hype is that it helped expose even within PL,the amateurish arrogance of JM's New Energy SuperMinister.
Kenneth Williams
Jan 10th, 16:45
Meta jkun wahdu kollox ok...imma meta jkun ma Conrad ma jiqafx jinterompi. Trid tisma lilu biss..anki l prezentatur kellu jwaqqfu. U ghandu wahda tajba ta il mistoqsijiet li jistaqsuh ma jwiegibhom QATT. Jekk ma temmnux araw Realta tal bierah u tkunu tafu x qed nghid...Brian staqsih 3 darbiet KEMM META U KIF ser irahhas il kont tad dawl jekk jerga jitla.
L Zammit
Jan 10th, 16:47
PL's power station up in smoke. Bravo Tonio.
David Bezzina
Jan 10th, 18:03
If anything,the PL's plan revealed the lack of planning that the PN has in the energy sector forcing the PN to admit that the electricity tariffs can be reduced after continuously saying that they cannot with LG also voting against reducing the tariffs in parliament.At least Labour has a person that has the expertise in the energy sector,unlike PN.
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Jan 10th, 16:27
Issa li qed nara u nifhem iz-zewg proposti tal-PN u l-MLP fuq l-energija qed nasal ghall konkluzjoni li ma nistax naghmel gamble bil-pajjiz ta' Malta ghax finalment xorta il-poplu ser ibati. Fejn jidhlu progetti kbar bhall dawn, irridu ninsew il-partigjanizmu u naghzlu l-ahjar ghall Malta. Bla dubju, il-proposta ta' l-MLP ma hiex wahda sikura u mill-fatti jidher li ma tahdimx.
S Borg
Jan 10th, 17:44
Really? And the so called experimental power station, paid in full, and to be converted by PN to work with gas as well (as it should have been from starters), is delivering in your opinion?
James Sultana
Jan 10th, 16:24
Having a gas pipeline is convenient, but being connected doesn't mean that any supply is guaranteed simply because the EU is not self-sufficient in gas production and has to buy most of its gas from Russia. So when Russia (or any other non-EU country from where the pipeline passes) decide to shut the valve, Europe won't have any gas. So ships may offer more flexibility from where to buy
Jonathan Brimmer
Jan 10th, 16:22
What's this mess?
The Prime Minister says that the tarrifs will go down and his Minister of Finance says it's not possible.
And what about that excuse of the tankers? Did we have to buy oil tankers to transport oil to Malta? Did we have to buy specialised ships to transport coal when the Marsa powerplant was fired by coal?
They treat the people like idiots! Unbelievable.
S Borg
Jan 10th, 17:49
Well said.
You forgot to mention also the special containers they had to buy to transport and dispose off the waste generated by the new experimental power station.
H. Meilak
Jan 10th, 16:12
Dear Labour supporters,
Alternattiva Demokratika will soon express its opinion about this project, and it will definitely come out against it. I hope you will not say that AD is panicking, sour grapes and what not.
H. Meilak
Kenneth Williams
Jan 10th, 16:34
Ma ghandix dubju ...Jekk smajt lil M Brigulgio l bierah fuq Realta tinduna l fejn jigbdu l AD. Biex tasal tghid li tuza HFO flok il gas ghax irhas ma ghandux fejn jasal izjed M Brigulgio.
Donna Parnis
Jan 10th, 17:01
H Meilak, AD will go with whatever the PN say as they really have no ideas of their own anyway. They always have and always will. AD are like PNs broken arm.
H. Meilak
Jan 10th, 21:04
Donna Parnis, in my opinion you are quite wrong here. Nearly all Labour supporters will say yes to anything projected by Labour and nearly all PN supporters wll say yes to anything projected by PN. AD is the only credible party.....love them or hate them.
George Cutajar
Jan 10th, 16:07
Labour's proposal brings to mind 'Mission Impossible' in which the President of a wayward Russian state promises free heating to his people. They hailed him as a hero at first until they realised what the reality was.
Labour's proposal is not only an 'Alice in Wonderland' but also a Mission Impossible.
Donna Parnis
Jan 10th, 17:02
And Gonzis interconnector is still at the same stage it was in 1999, And they say PN look to the future, Yes the look but dont do anything about it. LP look, learn and deliver.
Anthony Paris
Jan 10th, 16:06
If ultimately it is proved that the PN proposal is a better / cheaper one, then it is very simple, we can adopt the PN solution. But we will not trust the PN to implement it. We do not want another Arriva.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jan 10th, 16:24
A very good point Mr Paris. The PN's record is well known. People may come to their own conclusions. What I find baffling, is that suddenly nothing is doable or possible. Therefore, I cannot fathom why we still suffer power cuts, the inter-connector project is still not approved, the gas pipeline is 7 years away,if eventually approved, the BWSC plant uses the dirtiest fuel possible, etc, etc,.
Frans Bugeja
Jan 10th, 16:05
Prosit tassew Tonio.Kellek il-hila turi bi provi dettaljati,kif din il-Gimmick tal-Labour ma tahdimx,barra li urejt bil-provi dettaljati kif din il-proposta ma tistax issehh apparti l-fatt li ma ghandniex bzonnha ghax id-domanda tal-Energija f'Pajjizna hija bizzejjed u bil-Pipeline li qed jaghmel Gvern Nazzjonalista,u li tkun lesta f'April 2014 it-tariffi jorhsu,ghalhekk il-PL semma din id-data
Kenneth Williams
Jan 10th, 16:23
Ghadu l anqas hu lest il kuntratt ahseb hu ara kemm ser jkun lest il pipeline sa 2014
David Bezzina
Jan 10th, 16:31
U mela...kollox dalwaqt ikun lest kumbinazzjoni !
Chris Borg
Jan 10th, 16:36
Ikun lest April 2014? Taf li ghadhom ma hargux il-permess biex jibda jsir ix-xoghol tla-interconnector minn naha ta' Sqallija? Mela m'ghamilniex mill ewwel hekk flok infaqna dawk il-miljuni kollha sabiex naghmlu il-BWSC bil-HFO? Jien ma rridx xi Arriva ohra ghalhekk mhux se nafda lil Tonio aktar. Darba iva, darbtejn le.
joseph borg st john
Jan 10th, 16:47
Kenneth ahseb u ara kemm se tkun lesta il powerstation fantasija tal lejber.
Peter Montebello
Jan 10th, 16:49
Kenneth, il-ministru fenech qal li sal 2014 ikun lest l-interconnector MHUX IL-PIPELINE. Ghal pipeline ta' madwar 6-7 snin ohra.
Charles Micallef
Jan 10th, 16:04
After the initial shock the Hon Minister on his last legs is finding every excuse in the book to pour cold water over the issue!
Carmel Borg
Jan 10th, 16:26
I would use exactly your same words except one. I will change the word "excuse" with "fact".
George Cassar
Jan 10th, 16:04
Tonio KIF, KEMM U META WILL YOU REDUCE THE UTILITY RATES. WHY DID YOUR PRIME MINISTER VOTED WITH SUCH ZEAL IN FAVOUR OF A HEFTY INCREASE IN UTILITY RATES. BUBLISH THE COSTINGA OF THE BWSC PLANT AND GAS PIPELINE TO BE CREDIBLE.
m borg
Jan 10th, 16:04
Ahjar jara kif ha jikkonvinci c-Cwiec li mar jghajjar biex forsi jivvutaw ghall-partit tieghu. Trid tkun cuc biex temmnu.
A Vella
Jan 10th, 16:01
Some call it Karma, some say what goes around comes around. Joseph and the LP are being treated for the first time with their own medicine, and the end result is very simple - A promise with zero transparency, after five years of trying to topple a government on this very same issue. Be transparent Joseph, come out clean tell us all the plan, implement the new way of doing politics.
David Baldacchino
Jan 10th, 15:57
What I would like to here from both parties, is to give realistic proposals for the coming 5 years. Do not insult our intelligence, we know you want our vote, but dont make it too obvious, it can only work against you.
J. Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:56
Sur Tonio, ic-cans tighek haddtu. Ilkom ma nafx kemm il-sena fil-gvern u kullma hadna kontijiet gholjien tad-dawl.
Nistaw naghtu cans lil haddiehor.
Ahjar tal-PN jiffukaw x' ser jaghmlu huma, milli x' ma jistghax jaghenl haddiehor.
Inbad il-poplu jaghzel.
LOUIS JOSEPH BORG
Jan 10th, 15:54
thats ok mr fenech!
labour can charge taxes on high earners, travel, luxury cars, alcahol, cigarettes, electronics etc
but its light and water that we need everyday and its vital not other things !
so be it for taxes! as long he puts the bills down
Jesmond Abela
Jan 10th, 16:03
Mr Borg - very smart!!
Matthew Micallef
Jan 10th, 16:14
I am sorry but that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. Whats the difference? Raising taxes so that we can lower electricity and water? what does that solve. The money is still coming out of your pockets. What we need is our water and electricity bills lowered without touching anything else.
PN haven't been able to do this and I doubt LP will either.
M Borg
Jan 10th, 16:15
I hope that you are joking. ! Maybe you do not have a luxury car, or you do not travel, smoke of drink etc but if taxes are increased I am afraid even you will be taxed.
Not only that if the " rich " are over taxed prople might lose work so even if " you " are not taxed you will end up without a job. Not something to look forward to !!
J. Muscat
Jan 10th, 16:38
Dear Mr. Borg if you increase the tax on high earners they will leave the island. For every one high earner who leaves you will need 10 low earners to pay more taxes eventually!
LOUIS JOSEPH BORG
Jan 10th, 17:15
very wrong M BORG
i drink alohol,travel alot and own 3 cars and pay thousands of euro per year for my children education!
but as long as taxes are not on vital things so be it!
G Schembri
Jan 10th, 15:53
Tonio Fenech party failed in solving the energy problem in Malta. In the 80s they promised a new Power station which would do away with the Marsa one - 20 years later we still depend on it, and still have to pay the cost of the Delimara station. Gonzi PN has now lumped us with an extension which works with heavy fuel oil,the never published the contract and paid for it before trying it out.
Mark Spiteri
Jan 10th, 16:25
The standard of living has increased so much under the PN that the Marsa power station couldn't be switched off Mr. Schembri...most people can afford an AC now.
David Bezzina
Jan 10th, 16:38
@Mark Spiteri : The Marsa Powerstation is a constant reminder of the PN's failure to tackle the energy issues whilst in power.If I may remind Mr.Spiteri,there were beggars on the streets when Labour came into office in 1971.The progress by Malta during these last 30 years was coherent with other industrialized countries and both parties contributed towards that progress.
Joseph Galea
Jan 10th, 15:52
Kellek chance inti Ministru u l-Partit fil-gvern jiehu decizzjoni bhal din matull il-legizlatura li ghaddiet biex ma nsemmux l-20 sena ta' qabel.
Jiddispjacini, did-darba le!
Richard Caruana
Jan 10th, 15:50
Within a few weeks lejber will start rethinking the whole idea as it begins to be shred to bits by all sectors.
The gas pipeline is the only solution for cheap gas transportation, and without the need for large reservoirs being built. Once that is completed the Delimara plant can be converted to gas operation.
Lejber is putting the cart before the horse, as usual as in the case of VAT.
Alfred Vassallo
Jan 10th, 16:09
Now just stay quite as your Government did in these last 25 years..... and watch things take shape...just sit back and relax...although I am quite sure that something the pn apologists can't do....too much to loose eh?
joseph borg st john
Jan 10th, 17:15
Vassallo in your dreams tell your beloved lejber to publish the details if they have any LOL
victor ellul
Jan 10th, 15:49
tonio qal li li l.interconnector baqalu 5 snin biex ikun lest. qal ukoll li iz.zejt ma jidirx li se jorhos.mela taht gonzi il .prezzijiet tad.dawl u ilma joghlew jistaw.u mhux jorhsu kif qal gonzi.
Daniel Soler
Jan 10th, 15:57
l-interconnector ikun lest March 2014. Dak il pipe line 5 years.
paul falzon
Jan 10th, 15:42
So far this electoral campaign has been a farce ..... with no concrete or credible proposals from EITHER PARTY . Should this trend continue both parties can rest assured that on election day a lot of floating voters will stay comfortably on their sofa's instead of going to the polls.
Come on PN and PL....give us something to chew on !!
Edward Mallia
Jan 10th, 15:41
Because the EU knew that Malta and Cyprus were cut off from the mainland, it had accepted to help financially said Min. Fenech.
Which part of the EU gas grid will Cyprus be linked to by pipeline? Or is Cyprus to be helped to install a LNG terminal, with supplies from Egypt? If that is the case, what is sauce for the Cyprus goose is sauce for the Maltese gander. We should look for EU help for LNG
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:38
pt2 and possibly more millions in respect of any amounts paid by Enemalta on the interconnector.
That means more losses – in excess of 100 million euros – in the books of Enemalta.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:38
pt1 Dr. Konrad Mizzi, left an important bit out of their equation.
The moment the plant owned by Enemalta become mostly idle (excess capacity), Enemalta will be required to write down the value of its plant in its books. If Enemalta’s plant will only generate about 40% of the country’s demand, then one would expect a write down in excess of 100 million euros in respect of the BWSC plant,
John Bonello
Jan 10th, 15:35
Why not labour publish their studies to prove him wrong ?? If they think otherwise. Why are they ingnoring the journalist questions on this matter and they keep repeating the same think over & over again ??? Why not come out clean and publish the investors names ????? whats keeping them from beign open regard this. the pn can not steal their plan like Jm stole the budget
R Casha
Jan 10th, 16:04
Biex qed tiskanta....Gonzi ma ppublikax kuntratt li permezz tieghu kien ser jitwikka bl-Isptar St. Philips! Issa il-PL ghandu 9 gimghat biex jispjega kollox...allura trid tkun kalm u tistenna ftit filwaqt li tiftah widnejk u tifhem mhux biss tisma.
Simon Fenech
Jan 10th, 16:21
It is because no body can do miracles. If labour is so certain to be in government they should share all the details so those who do not wear spectacles of any color can judge at face value and vote accordingly. But as usual with labour it's give me a signed blank cheque and then I will send you the bill. If Labour wins it will be due to disgruntled nationalists and not due to this issue for sure!
Kenneth Williams
Jan 10th, 16:26
Veru ma tisthux...Jien ghadni nistenna il kuntratt tas St Philips...il kuntratt tas CEO ta l AirMalta....il kuntratt tal BWSC...tal Waste serve u elf kuntratt iehor.
Mario Camilleri
Jan 10th, 16:59
Imma kemm qed tahsbuna cwiec Sur Bonello? X'ismijiet ta investituri trid? Il-Pl wera il-pjanijiet tieghu, issa jekk ikun fil-gvern johorgu it-tenders u imbaghad tkun taf l-ismijiet ta min jixtieq jinvesti f'dan il-progett. Niggarantilek jien li kieku semma xi isem ta xi investitur kontu tohorgu tghidu li dan tal-qalba ux? u li il-process ivvizjat....u li ma tawx cans lil investituri ohra.....
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jan 10th, 15:35
I have just watched Tonio Fenech’s press conference on NetTV and the points he outlined made a lot of sense.
Can the MLP publish their studies in order to evaluate whatever they are saying will really make sense as otherwise just pronouncing statements won’t do and people won’t believe a word.
Just publish the studies, please!
JC.
David Bezzina
Jan 10th, 16:45
Sour Grapes,Mr.Cauchi !
Ant Anthony
Jan 10th, 15:33
Mr. Fenech might be right in his costings, because when you factor in the commissions that are given to friends and friends of friends on most of Past Government project they always amount to some 2/3 more than actual cost. So if PN are next in Government it will actually cost as much as Mr Fenech says but with the excess from actual going into undeserving pockets
Edward Mallia
Jan 10th, 15:33
Could the people shooting their mouths off about LNG ships check that:
There is a constant LNG traffic between Algeria and Marseille. & Italy is operating two LNG terminals. LNG tankers are a common species. We do not have to buy any.
& If the EU is pledged to help Malta and Cyprus (cf. Min. Fenech), can he tell us which part of the EU gas grid Cyprus can link up to? Or is Cyprus an LNG case?
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Jan 10th, 17:10
To try to strengthen our point of view we tend to pepper our argument which may have validity with added flights of fantas. I agree with you that there are many LNG carriers which can be contracted even on short term basis to ship LNG and shipping prices are on the decrease. The only problem might be to match the holding tanks with a normal tanker size of over 135 thousand cubic metres.
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:32
From what us simple folk gathered....the LP proposal smells fishy!!
Abe Sammut
Jan 10th, 15:31
Gonzi qal li kien behsiebu jaghmel pipeline tal gas? mela ghalfejn ghamel il powerstation bil heavy fuel oil. U sa fejn naf jien kien qed isemmi interconnector li jgib id dawl min sqallija mhux pipeline tal gas! ieqfu ilaghbu bid diskors please ghax dejjaqtuna
C Cassar
Jan 10th, 16:02
Sakemm ikollu l-pipeline ghax kien prattiku u nduna li bil-vapuri ma tistax tahdem... u se ttella' l-spejjez. Allura qal ha ngib PS li kapaci tahdem kemm HFO u GAS. Fil-bidu nuzaha fuq l-HFO li huwa l-irhas zejt u mbaghad once li jkollna l-pipeline naqilbuha GAS. L-pipeline jrid jigi bil-fondi ta' l-EU u tafu li dawn jiehdu z-zmien.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 10th, 16:04
Ghamel power station jahdem bil-heavy oil imma li jista jigi kkonvertit ghal-gas aktar tard meta il-gas ikun process vijabli u dan sar biss wara li l-EU setghet tghin biex nidhlu ghall-ispiza ta' pajpijiet li jghaqqduna mal-kontinent.
Vince Piscopo
Jan 11th, 06:08
With all due respect Dr Saliba allow me to disagree with you. Why should we wait for the interconnector to start implementing measures (a long standing 7year-project still inconclusive by the PN govt) when we now know that there is another feasible option proposed by PL to expediate our bid to reduce energy tariffs in the best interests of bettering finances for businesses and families?
Vince Piscopo
Jan 10th, 15:30
This is nothing but a pure attempt to mislead which is even more so convincing one to many that we do not need this "more of the same" governance. I expected Minister Fenech to illuminate us on, how, when, and how much will PN's "u-turned" plan will reduce energy tariffs.
Sarah Mercieca
Jan 10th, 15:27
sorry imma issa ma nistax nemmen CUC. b' hekk ikolli nivvota PL.
Mark Spiteri
Jan 10th, 16:28
jien pero sa nivvota PN
Mario Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:26
The irony is that when the all PN MPs had all the time in parliament, their reply to PL's MPs' questions was always "Nirrispondi lil onorevoli nterpellant li r-risposta nagħtihilu f'seduta oħra" and later and later. Today they are not questioning but demanding answers. How pathetic can dear Tonio!!
At least the PL is proposing and showing. You PN left the nation in the dark on all contracts.
pat muscat
Jan 10th, 15:25
Muscat has a dream: to lower our electricity bills. GonziPN, on the hand, gave us a nightmare, and Tonio Fenech, his minister, is doing his best to make sure we will continue to pay these scandalous bills, when, a gas fired station would have given us lower rates years ago! Why pay 14 cents a unit when the Europeans pay on average 7 cents or less, per unit with gas fired stations?
Mr. Mario F
Jan 10th, 16:46
Muscat has a dream for every opportunity to win him votes.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:25
PT2 German companies are actually switching from gas to coal because they’re losing money but Muscat is going to convince private companies to switch to gas just for Malta and then run power stations at a loss to keep prices down.
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21569039-europes-energy-policy-delivers-worst-all-possible-worlds-unwelcome-renaissance
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:25
PT1 ‘According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a research firm, power utilities in Germany were set, on average, to lose €11.70 when they burned gas to make a megawatt of electricity, but to earn €14.22 per MW when they burned coal.’
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 10th, 16:18
Lanqas li kieku ħa nagħmlu Power Station taħdem bl-ilma għax ukoll issibu xi tmaqdru. Mur ġibna ħa nagħmlu power station taħdem bil- faħam x' kontu tagħmlu izjed.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 16:50
@ Andrew Cumbo dan mhux jien qed imaqdar imma qed nurik il-fatti ta Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 10th, 17:17
Sur Bartoli, jigifieri kif qieghed tghid int għandna nibqaw nħadmu Power Station bil-HFO b'detrriment għall saħħitna. Tista tispjegali kif allura il- Gvern għandu pjannijiet li l- Power Station tal- BWSC jaqliba għall gas? Meta naslu għall din il- qelba il- gas ħa jkun irħas?. U jekk il- pjanijiet kienu li fil- futur taqleb għall gas għalfejn il- PN ma għamiliex mal- ewwel?
Adrian Gouder
Jan 10th, 15:23
And all this (€350 million minimum + risks) to save us €200 per person per year at most. I can't believe this is an issue!
Mr charles azzopardi
Jan 10th, 15:22
And now Tonio Fenech started to work ...
Conclusion : We now have the party of doubts ...
Joseph Bajada
Jan 10th, 15:22
sour grapes Tonio. PL is brighter and more intelligent than you and your cohorts. Learn to accept humility for a change!
Karl Consiglio
Jan 10th, 15:21
Tonio knows what he is talking about he's an expert, he's saved the country from the economic crises elsewhere, and PL have an awful track record regarding our bills even when it was not necessary to put them up.
Joseph Xuereb
Jan 10th, 15:18
Prosit Tonio. Spjega tajjeb hafna ghaliex il-proposta tal-MLP hija verament Alice in Wonderland. Ta spjega bin-numri, timelines u wera l-esperjenza f'progetti goffi bhal dawn. Bizzejjed biex l-unika haga li prova jipprova joffri l-MLP gabilhom suf. Ghax fuq il-qaghda ekonomika, sahha u edukazzjoni lanqas biss jifthu halqhom tal-MLP ghax ifakkru lin-nies li jaqbilek tibqa 30 sena u mhux 25 taht PN.
f. zammit
Jan 10th, 17:17
Titkellem hekk sinjal li qijed tajjeb taht pn
Tkellem ma zghir mhux ma sinjur sihbi
Joseph Micallef
Jan 10th, 15:18
Tonio Toninu qieghed jinkwieta... ehhh x'jaghmillek meta tkun ilek fil-poter... tibda tiddispra tara lil haddiehor mimli energija u entuzijazmu u inti tkun mimli nuqqas ta' energija u freschezza.
B Vella
Jan 10th, 15:16
Sour Grapes ......!!
John Attard
Jan 10th, 15:15
Ilbirah Gonzi ha irahhas id dawl. Illum Toni ma jghidx li ha irahhas. Ajma xi thawdu!!!! Hudu gimgha break ahsbuwa xha taghmlu, imbad ergghu qajmu dan it-topic ghax fil-panic iktar qed taghmlu hsara lilkom infuskom milli gid!!!!
*Joseph Brincat
Jan 10th, 15:14
Tonio Fenech is WORRIED because there could be more debit HA HA HI
but he is not WORRIED that Gonzi pn had Done 6 BILLION euros DEBIT !!
pat muscat
Jan 10th, 15:14
During his years as minister, Tonio never gave us a hint of workings, questions, answers, studies as to why we choose A or B or C! He chose dirty, expensive oil ; gave us the bill and explained nothing, ZERO!
Today, because he slept for 8 long years, he is criticizing Muscat for coming up with this great idea...and he wants all the workings instantly! Are you for real Mr Minister?
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:12
PL proposal goes up in smokes. Calling the PL proposal "Alice in Wonderland", is being to kind.
W. Cassar
Jan 10th, 15:48
Reading your comment is being kind!
Henry J Bonett
Jan 10th, 15:12
If PL’s proposal were manna from the desert PN and apoloigsts would still call it sh.t. The PM emphatically challenged Dr Muscat that rates could NOT be reduced. I would rather trust a young dynamic professional leader who totally flammoxed an exhausted flat-footed PN leader with Pretty Polly by his side who wanted gas, changed to hfo and now wants gas before the plant is in full service.
Joe Pace Asciak
Jan 10th, 15:11
So we can now begin to understand the logic of Labour's relentless media campaign against BWSC.
Richard Caruana
Jan 10th, 15:53
Quite right.
Where are the experts that talked their mouth off during the BWSC saga? Evarist Bartolo, Joe Mizzi (who knows exactly where we can find oil), et al.
Mario Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:10
Tonio għandu memorja qasira. Nesa li d-dejn nazzjonali ta' Malta fuq spallejn il-Maltin sar kemm ilu Ministru tal-finanzi hu? Dan qed jitkellem fuq taxxi??? Biex neħħa u jekk tneħħit it-taxxa li kien għadda żmienha dik tal-televiżżjoni għaddew 5 snin u kienet wegħda tal-2008!!! Dan għandu mistħija???
Jean Claude O'Neil
Jan 10th, 15:10
Every single question below was somehow answered in the HIGHLY DETAILED presentation delivered by Tonio Fenech in this press conference. This article is quite generic to say the least, even though it still poses serious doubts on the LP's proposal, which has desirable results BUT extremely expensive methods.
C Falzon
Jan 10th, 15:07
Ohra gdida. Issa mhux ma tistax issir...jekk issir jgholew it taxxi. Mur orqod Tonio...int lanqas ghal vici prim ministru ma kont tajjeb.
Oliver Grech
Jan 10th, 15:05
The points brought forward by Tonio Fenech show clearly the lack of competence labour has. In 1hr the PN brought down all the gimmick that labour has been planning for the last 3yrs.
I m sure that the people would realise this and would not allow JM and his party to ruin our own country. L- unika haga li ha jkunu hadu minnha l- labour huma l- flus ghal kampanja. I m everyday more convinced of it
John L Galea
Jan 10th, 15:04
Where are GonziPN's conteractive proposals to those of the PL? up to now bahhhhhh.
Mr Kevin Zammit
Jan 10th, 15:03
Is it not ironic that after this government's eagerness to liquidate Malta's ship building capability is now saying that spending hundreds of millions on some foreign company to lay cabling and/or gas piping is ok .... but to spend 150 millions on a maltese project is not ok!!
The problem with this government has always been making decision that were political and not for the good of the people
Christian Ellul
Jan 10th, 15:02
To those who are saying PN are not proposing their alternative energy plan i say, you either started following politics from the 7th Jan or else you've been listening to super 1 only these last 5 years.
Just to make it clear to only those who have an open mind ready to listen, PN's strategy of the inter-connector an a gas pipeline (partly EU funded) has been the govt strategy for a long time now!
Joseph Micallef
Jan 10th, 15:01
And do you expect me to believe you Tonio Fenech? Believe my foot! Your critisizing Labour and you were the person who approved the robbery of 500 Euro a week for you and your friends in parliament? ISTHI JEKK TAF TONIO FENECH! Il-gideb ta' GonziPN has reached unprecedented levels. We should ensure that GonziPN and his friends will never see government once again!
D. Muscat
Jan 10th, 15:00
Nistaqsi lill-Laburisti: jekk il-gass joghla? Ma tafux li l-privat DEJJEM jithallas u jipretendi hlas sew ghar-riskju li jiehu? Il-privat mhuwiex il-gvern ... il-privat qliegh BISS jara u m'ghandux il-hniena tal-welfare state.
Andre Ellul
Jan 10th, 14:55
This is a hands on minister. Well done
Angelo Vassallo
Jan 10th, 14:55
@ Victor Calleja
Kemm int sejjer zball vitor. Id-dwieli li nzerghu matul l-ahhar 25 sena (nehhi t-22 xahar DIZASTRU ta' alfred sant) milll-Partit Nazzjonalista kienu mizruha f'ghelieqi b'hamrija mill-aqwa, bir rizultat li L-INBID li pproduca l-PARTIT NAZZJONALISTA mhux qares xejn imma huwa ccertifikat bhala DOMINAZZJONI ta' ORIGINI KONTROLLATA - SUPERIOR - DOK SUPERIOR sur vitor.
Abe Sammut
Jan 10th, 15:50
Kemm int funny. Bhalma ghamel bwsc heavy fuel oil u qal li kien behsibom juzaw tal gas. Mela 250 million interessi fuq5-6 billion qishom m huma xejn imbaghad 350 million ghal poplu malti u ghawdxi biex jghin il familji kollha qieghed jghidilna ara min fejn ha iggibu il flus. Ara bieb il belt ghal hamiem u bridge ghal bahar u theatru ikrah malajr nefaq bl addocc li ma ggwadanjajna xejn.
J. Grima
Jan 10th, 14:51
Issa l-aqwa li nbezzghu bil-babaw Sur Ministru.
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Jan 10th, 14:50
Min ma jilhaqx l gheneb jghamel bhal TONIO.
Thomas C. Cassar
Jan 10th, 14:50
Dan l-istess bniedem li ma shabu ghabba l-Enemalta bi 800,000,000 ewro dejn?
Kieku jien floku taxxi u djun insemmihom mill-anqas.
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Jan 10th, 14:49
Min ma jilhaqx l gheneb jghamel bhal TONIO.
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:14
Alex Azzopardi, instead of empty words, why not take Tonio Fenecch to task on any issue that the Minister raised?
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:38
veru....Jitkellem bil-fatti.....mhux bid-duhhan jew bil-"GASS"
Adrian Borg
Jan 10th, 14:48
Dear Tonio Fenech
The more I read your assertions, the more I am convinced you are incompetent.
If only you try to think outside of the box.
- A berth for the Ships may be arranged at the free port and the connect it with the Power Station.
- The existing Dolphin may be altered to take on Gas Carriers and then connected to the Power Station.
- Who says that the ships have to be built anew?
Joe Falzon
Jan 10th, 15:16
Are you serious? Gas only can be transported from the Gas Carriers that are ships to the newly built terminals on the unstable land which the PL di not forcast. no dolphins nor the freeport can be of an excuse to the PL and while the ships are not that the usual ones which transport containers, there are very limited number of these which are built purposesly for a number of stations.
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:19
Adrian, where is berthing at the free port and the connection to the Power Station priced in the PL proposal? It is nowhere to be find in the PL proposal. So the Minister is right in stating that the PL proposal is underestimated. Neither the investment that is required to rehabilitate the land to build the Gas tanks costed in the PL proposal.
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:37
THe LP proposal SAYS that new ships need to be built, not Tonio Fenech.
Read the presentation. Yes, it is far from detailed and very sketchy.
It stinks of a done deal...????Bateman perhaps???
Adrian Borg
Jan 10th, 16:30
Mr Joe Falzon
Yes, I am serious if gas can be transported to Malta in a Pipeline how can it not be transported from a terminal to the Power Station. I am certain that your maritime knowledge is very limited to state that Gas carriers are not a common type of ship.
Mr Joe Vella
I never did say that there will be no cost but for a Minister to write it off outright is unheard of.
Mr Denis Pace
My com
Mark Spiteri
Jan 10th, 16:32
Are you serious stating that you can store gas at the freeport...and do you think the shipping companies using the freeport would like the idea...unbelievable
Adrian Borg
Jan 10th, 16:57
Mark Spiteri
Please read before making comments, I never said that the gas is to be stored at the free port.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:47
I love the part about the ships - has Fenech nevr heard of leasing ships or enagaging ships to carry cargo? He is really scarping the bottom of the barrel here.
Oliver Grech
Jan 10th, 15:02
That comes at an expense too, Mr. Camilleri...and the labour did not even account for that.
jm busuttil
Jan 10th, 15:11
@ Mr Andrew Camiller
Did not know that these come cheap. Hallina and get you facts right.
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:24
Andrew do you really believe that there are ships out there waiting for the Government of Malta to lease them? These ships costs about 50 million Euros to build, who is with that kind of Investment keeping these ships docked waiting for Joseph Muscat to call. Where is the security of supply
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:43
The LP proposal SPECIFICALLY says that new ships will be built.
Ask JM not TF....
Julian Borg
Jan 10th, 14:46
PL's proposal - a €600 million gas bomb we don't need in Delimara!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:54
Have you never heard of gas being held in tanks elsewher - or huge amounts of fuel? Where do you think the gas or the petrol you buy is held until distributed? Jahhasra kemm thobbu tirrepetu hmerijiet.
Jeff Scicluna
Jan 10th, 14:57
what about the gas tanks right next to our residential areas?
Brian Gatt
Jan 10th, 15:14
600Million Gas bomb? bdejna nirrepetu bhal papagalli !!
R Axisa
Jan 10th, 15:15
Mela kull fejn ikun hemm petrol station li tforni l-gass ghall-karozzi hemm bomba! U halluna! Jekk l-affarijiet isiru skont ir-regoli tas-sigurta' skont EU standards, m'ghandux ikun hemm periklu. Saqsi xi engineer kompetenti u malajr jghidlek!
Mario Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:16
The most bombastic bomb we have to shoulder is EneMalta's debt which is in the region of over €800m and that is not in Delimara but a burden on every citizen.
Jean Paul Micallef
Jan 10th, 15:17
LNG being a bomb is a myth for non technicals
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 10th, 15:54
All of us that live in the South of Malta want the power station to work with gas. Even if there is not going to be a cost reduction in our bills, for our health it is worth to have a power station with gas. Your argument does not make sense, as you are saying we already have two gas bomb plants that distribute our domestic gas to our homes.
Hossam Helwani
Jan 10th, 16:04
Where are the protests we had way back in 1988? The bonfires and the screams of pollution? and now we are creating a huge gas bomb!!!! how inspiring lejber we are perplexed.
W. Cassar
Jan 10th, 14:43
The next thing to scare people with is of course taxes.... not that Gonzi did not tax us enough!
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:12
Every one remember the forced introduction of 33 new taxes in 1996 and a sales tax(CET) of 29% this just to cover up the MLP gimmick of VAT removal. Even Lino Spiteri resigned after such a gimmick. At least Alfred Sant only lasted 22 months since he was voted off by another MLP MP and the economy wheel started turning again.
Adrian Gouder
Jan 10th, 15:21
Just a note to say the PN government consistently reduced the tax burden year after year.
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:26
W.Cassar, Gonzi did away with 25 taxes that your PL Governments had imposed. That is the record.
m farrugia
Jan 10th, 15:28
can you list taxes plse or are you referring to yearly income tax cuts,further tax savings for families through parent tax, one year tax free for working mothers, tax rebates to parents of children in chldcare & private schools,substantial increase in childrens allowance, dirty cheap flights for families.....
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:36
Peanuts....
Wait for Labour, man!
D Schembri
Jan 10th, 14:43
All PN is doing is attacking PL's proposals. I would have expected PN to come up with theri suggestions.
T Mifsud
Jan 10th, 14:51
The PN are doing the Interconnector which the PL has to finish when in power
A Vella
Jan 10th, 14:54
Learn to read Schembri, PN's suggestions are very simple and sure - Interconnector and gas pipeline (when aproved), together with solar energy and possible wind farm. We know about this plane way before last Monday, and after all the drama built around Labour's policy there are still more credible and stable choices.
S. Cuschieri
Jan 10th, 15:03
PN have been coming up with suggestions and acting upon them for the past years now, for e.g. the pipeline which PL will go against despite EU proposals & funding.... I think it's only natural for PN to explain the consequences of such a proposal made by PL, which seems to be lacking a lot of important details!
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Jan 10th, 15:19
The PN has been long ago telling us about their suggestions but first you have to take off your ear plugs and concentate on what the PN have been saying all along.
1. Finalise financing and complete gas pipe connector with EU help.
2. Change new power station from fuel oil to gas. Already producing cheaper energy.
3. Connect to the European grid.
4. Reduce W&E rates, if possible.
Dik is serjeta
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:32
D. Schembri, the PN doesn't have to come up with any suggestions. The PN plans are in the working. Starting with Delimara 2 which already have reduced the cost of Electricity generation to about 15Cents per kilo watt. Secondly, the inter-connector is a work in progress and will be operational by March 2014. ...cont./
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:33
European Grid... March 2014
Gas Pipeline (EU funded) after 2015 - EU Budget.
Photovoltaic farms...
Are you blind or deaf or both?
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:36
Cont... Once the inter-connector comes on line the production of Electricity by kilo watt will further be reduced to 11 cents. Also, once financing is guaranteed by the EU for the a permanent Gas pipeline to Europe and the pipeline is in place the cost of Electricity per kilo watt will be further reduced to 8.7 cents per Kilo watt, ..cont/
B Vella
Jan 10th, 15:47
PN have no solutions whatsoever.........!! their Policy on energy is the one we have today.!
Mr Anthony Briffa
Jan 10th, 15:56
The PN's proposals are already in place and it do not need to go about them the way the PL is going. It is logical if production cost come down along will the tariffs. The inter connector's commissioning in the 1st quarter of 2014 is the only way PL can reduce the tariffs slightly. Furthermore I am not surprised by PL's big talk, after all it made the tariffs a political issue. Now enjoy it.
Mark Demicoli
Jan 10th, 14:43
inkredibli it-tahwid li qeghdin fih! Zmien ilu Gonzi jghid li trahhas id-dawl hu ilma hu impossibli, il-ministri u nies ta madwaru jghidu li-gimmick u l-bierah jghid li PN hu iddedikat li jrahhas il kontijiet tad dawl u ilma u li l-proposti tal-labour huma photocopy u hafna minnhom diga kien qalhom il PN. IDDECIEDU!!
Joe Vella
Jan 10th, 15:47
Mark Demicoli, what Gonzi said that no Government could guarantee to promise to reduce tariffs because no body knows what the price of the commodity is going to be in the future. Prices of Eledticity tariffs can go down with the savings of of the inter-connector and the permanent gas link will provide, as long as, the price of the commodity doesn't go up.
Mark Demicoli
Jan 10th, 17:19
J.Vella - there is no if's here, but simply that the PN proposal would cut tarrifs!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130110/local/Gonzi-says-Government-proposal-would-cut-tariffs.452597
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:41
OK so now can Mr Fenech publish all the reports, estimates and working showing how got to these figures? It's so easy to throw figures around without any evidence. I just hope he is being responsible and not trying to scare people off from voting Labour by simple inventing amounts.
Oliver Grech
Jan 10th, 15:02
He just did...unlike your party.
Brian Gatt
Jan 10th, 15:15
Well said
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:35
Inventing amounts????
How naive can you get?
Richard Caruana
Jan 10th, 15:47
If you read the whole feature you will find that these have been published on the Ministry's website. Just go and have a look and you'll see how much it costs to work with gas.
This scheme by JM and his buddies is nothing but hot air.
Oliver Grech
Jan 10th, 15:55
Just in case you need assistance to find them. Here they are: http://finance.gov.mt/default.aspx
Pablo Mallia
Jan 10th, 14:40
Not even a block of flats would be ready in two year's time, let alone a power station..........and functional with gas !
M. Cachia
Jan 10th, 14:56
Honk Kong - kissru muntanja u bnew ajruport f'sena!
Winston Zahra smajtu b'widenejja jghid li kull lukanda li bena, dejjem zamm ma l-istima u maz -zmien!
Ghaliex il-gvern ghandu jnuk differenti! Benchmarks = The Name Of The Game!
Mario Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:13
Pero żgur inqas minn 15-il sena mhux daqs l-isptar Mater Dei.
Mr B Vella
Jan 10th, 14:39
I cannot see any proposals by the minister at least Labour cards are on the table.
Voters are still waiting for GonziPN to come up with an energy Plan !!
S. Cuschieri
Jan 10th, 15:06
what cards are on the table?? PL just came up with a plan which is a fairytale & which will ultimately not lead to a decrease in the W&E bills cause the expenses are too much in the first place.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:13
the PM announced last November that the Dellimara power station would eventually be converted to gas.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121112/local/new-gas-plant-inaugurated.44512
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:34
Already there.......Interconnector grid, EU gas pipeline!
Joseph John Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:37
What cards on the table? Playing with figures to impress. A fully operational powerstation in two years time when we already have two power stations. If this is not a gimmick what is? And who are the fools to accept to build and operate this powerstation and wait for their profits in ten years time. This is fishing for votes.
Peter Paul Farrugia
Jan 10th, 15:54
You do not have to be a genius to figure out, in November, that one of the ways the PL plans to lower energy bills is by turning to Gas, Muscat had already proposed it.. But what really makes any PN excuse sound faint right now is that notwithstanding their claims of having had the knowledge years ago,they still did nothing about it and went ahead with the monstrosity that is the BWSC extension.
Marcus Tabone
Jan 10th, 14:39
To be fair I was thinking the same way regarding how the gas would be transported here. Gas requires special ships which for a size like Malta would need to be built specifically for, you dont just find these vessels, that is an extra expense, and to think the private sector would fork out this money and then are told on how to price their gas distribution to the public is unheard of.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:56
Shipping is in a slump and LNG carriers are easily available for charter. Please do some research before you comment.
Brian Gatt
Jan 10th, 15:17
Ever heard of Chartering of vessels? worst case scenario they need to dreg the area near the Dolphin to eliminate the tanker draft problem..
Mr CHARLES TANTI
Jan 10th, 15:19
Mela ma tafx li illhom jithlu dawn il vapuri gew il port ta mxlokk marcus.Dawn il vapuri jezistu u mux sa jinbnew ghax ga ghawn bhalhom.
Marlon Borg
Jan 10th, 15:28
On which world are you living? "you don't just find these vessels" - are you serious? Have you ever heard of chartering maybe?
Joseph Galea
Jan 10th, 14:37
Kampanja Elettorali PN = Biza biza biza biza!
X' se tofru??
S. Cuschieri
Jan 10th, 15:09
Ma naqbilx.... Jekk qed jipprovaw jispjegaw lil poplu x'inhuma l-proposti tal-PL (ghax meta ssaqsi lil xi membru tal-PL ma jafux kif se jirrispondu), dan ma nghidlux biza, izda huwa mod kif tfiehem lin nies x'inhi s-sitwazzjoni. L-PL hareg jghid li se jrahhas il kontijiet bi 25% - u din hi l-figura li n-nies se jiehdu pjacir jaraw. Izda l-verita hija hafna iktar differenti minn hekk!
m farrugia
Jan 10th, 15:32
diga qalulek bizzejjed xse joffru - aktar rohs fit taxxa, aktar investiment massiv fl eduzazzjoni u sahha bxejn, aktar jobs ta kwalita ghal min lest jghin ruhu u jistudja, pipeline tal gas finanzjat mill EU bil possibilita li enemalta tkun f pozizzjoni ahjar li toffri prezzijiet ahjar imma mhux ghas skapitu tal finanzi tal pajjiz, aktar investiment fi spazji miftuha ( li bhalhom diga saru ghexiere
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:35
Xoghol, Edukazzjoni u Sahha.
Denis Pace
Jan 10th, 15:42
Kampanja PL = POPULIZMU U DEMAGOGIJA....
Il-biza thal-poplu mhux il-PN jaghmilha....izda t-tifkiriet tal-gvernijiet Socjalisti..
George Cutajar
Jan 10th, 14:32
The government remained committed to give the people the cheapest possible energy in a sustainable way.
This is the key. A PN government goes for sustainability while Labour runs after the vote and will say and do anything to please the masses so long as it gets the vote.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:57
Where and when did government give this commitment- can you quote when and where please?
Daniel Muscat
Jan 10th, 15:30
very well said.
Joseph Arpa
Jan 10th, 14:32
Oh hush!!!! your track record minister in higher debt is nothing to shout about!!!
Joe Falzon
Jan 10th, 15:19
Well then you are just living on the own!! Even the biggest economy in Europe has praised Malta's abilities to succeed in this crises.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 14:31
Once upon a time in 1996, even Alfred Sant assumed personal responsibility to remove VAT. He kept his promise however he had to introduce 33 new taxes and a sales tax of 29%. Thank God that in those days Mintoff voted against the MLP government and the economy wheel started turning again thanks to the NAtionalist Party back in power. Tal-Labour ma tistax tafdhom!
Brian Gatt
Jan 10th, 15:27
Thallatx il-Hass mal-Gass no pun intended. This is a professional report backed up by an internationally re-known agency. Ex Minister Tonio Fenech is firing away figures without having any proof to back them up, but then again what would you expect form someone with his track record. Worst Finace Minister ever. I hope that this story end with the PL in Govt so we can then live happily ever after
Norman George
Jan 10th, 14:30
As if we’re ever going to believe you, I have been duped with your Air Malta farce, foreigners, Maltese cwiec, letters from Gonzi. You and your prime minister are no longer trustworthy, pls do us a favour and shut up. Just tell us what you are going to do if elected and let us use our intelligence to vote.
Joseph John Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:39
Vera trid tkun cuc mil-kbar biex tibla' din. Jitnellhu bl-intelligenza tal-poplu.
Peter Simpson
Jan 10th, 14:30
GonziPN is presently resembling the Tower of Babel: all ministers confounded by confused Muscat.
Simon says 'gimmick' Tonio says 'doubtful'.Gonzi: he will 'reduce the tariffs' too!
Which is the right version please?
Dr Gonzi had 8 years to produce a solution and instead he ruined us with his electrcity bills. 8 weeks before the elections he is going to do what he did not do in 8 wasted years?
S. Cuschieri
Jan 10th, 15:13
If we really are ruined then we wouldn't have good educational systems, a free & good health care system, a good quality of life (just try going out for a stroll and see that all restaurants & bars are full of people & at times fully booked from weeks before) and to top it all off good reviews from the EU (which is definetely not biased)....
joe muscat
Jan 10th, 14:30
Minuta ghax xi haga mhux nifhem .allura skond Tonio rridu nixtru il vapuri biex ngibu il gas .....allura biex ngibu il heavy fuel oil xtrajna it tankers ukoll....tad dahk
S. Cuschieri
Jan 10th, 15:14
not really....
Steve Zammit
Jan 10th, 14:25
better trust the devil i know then the devil I don't.
J. Grima
Jan 10th, 14:52
Imma d-'devil you know' xorta devil jibqa'!
Jean Paul Micallef
Jan 10th, 15:20
U le
R Casha
Jan 10th, 15:59
are you voting for the first time?! Cause from your reasoning, you sound so immature!
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Jan 10th, 14:24
Anyone who has at least just a little bit of common sense could easily tell who is the most convincing and most fit to run the country with full ability and responsability.
Prosit Ministru!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:58
So for you its common sense to come up with all sorts of lame excuses and invent numbers and figures. No wonder you support GonziPN!
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Jan 10th, 17:36
Having common sense means being able to make the difference between deciding for yourself whether what is being said is the truth, BASED on FACTS, and not repeating like a parrot that they are "lame excuses' and "invented numbers" just because you choose to believe them because you want to believe them regardless, Mr Camilleri.
Maria Mangion
Jan 10th, 14:23
PL worked on the project for 2 years on proposals made by DMV Kema and Super Tonio revised it in to days. WOW!!!!!!!!
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 10th, 14:21
This has been taken from the fairytale book "Alice in wonder land".
Michael Sammut
Jan 10th, 14:19
Give us a break Mr Fenech.
We are intelligent humans.
Just apologize for the mess you have made during your time, give a chance for things to be different, and stop making a fool of yourself. We have paid for the excesses of your time through the debt you leave behind as legacy and personally administered. I have but one question. When oh when will that debt begin to be paid back?
Mike Micallef
Jan 10th, 14:15
Labour's proposal does not go far beyond the powerpoint presentation, and smacks too much of the 'Bridge Too Far' type of plan, which assumed all factors to be the frozen at the most advantageous levels possible, and totally ignores any contrary indicators. It is impossible to rationally accept a proposal which totally ignores the flctuating price of fossil fuels, what gas ultimately is.
T Mifsud
Jan 10th, 14:12
This is another Labour BUNGLE that's is looming. Unfortunately this one will cost much more than last labour's attempt at government. This would cost the tax payer very dearly.
Actually I want to hear what is JM going to do with the proposed budget TAX CUTS of 25%. Is he or is he not going to keep them?
Andre Briffa
Jan 10th, 14:07
Mhux ovja...anyone who thinks that Labour are going to reduce the income tax rates from 35% to 25%, remove all tax for the minimum wage and carry out their energy proposal without bringing the country to its knees is clueless. JM trying to please too many people.
*Joseph Brincat
Jan 10th, 14:06
Tonio Fenech is this the one that he NEVER Done his home work right
for never was capable to put the deafest down >>>> NO CREDIBILITY !!!
j brincat
Jan 10th, 14:06
Sour grapes Tonio because you didn't come out with such a professional proposal!
Remember that it was you who had promised us with such fanfare that the deficit would be balanced by end December 2010, has it?
Who was it who raised the W & E bills to record high and which sent the whole nation reeling?
Unfortunately we have come know by experience what GonziPN & pals stand for!
jb
Joe Borg (Senior)
Jan 10th, 14:05
Kif ma jisthix jghid li jrid juza l-gas!! Ilhom hemm 25 sena w issa jrid jerga jaqleb ghal gas .. jekk mhux double U Turn din x'inhi mela!
jm busuttil
Jan 10th, 15:13
Le kellu cans wkoll Alfred Sant.
Kemm tinsew maljar ta' Labour imma ahna Le
Peter Paul Farrugia
Jan 10th, 16:30
Alfred Sant's proposals, tariffs and taxes were all attempts at averting inflation and a deficit, which unfortunately for our country, were never given enough time to give their fruits. It was Dr Sant alone who had the visibility of forseeing the eurozone crisis which for
How sorry must most of us feel today..after 25 years of wreckless spending and unscrupulous corruption right under our noses.
Wenzu Cole
Jan 10th, 14:04
Ok so he is saying that the whole study is wrong and after 2 days Tonio managed to come out with a figure of 600 m.
I think at this point it is fair enough to ask for him to publish the study!
Anton Attard
Jan 10th, 14:03
PN sar il-partit tal-LE.
S. Cuschieri
Jan 10th, 15:16
Jekk il labour jibqa johrog bi proposti bhal dawn nispera li l-PN jibqa jghid LE ghax ifisser li jkunu ghadhom f'sensihom!
George Cassar
Jan 10th, 14:03
So, Dear Minister,
Tell us how you will be reducing our tariffs - since now it is do-able as the Prime Minister said yesterday. Do not just throw the PL's proposals away. Tell us YOUR proposals.
carmel vella
Jan 10th, 14:02
Il-Ministru jahseb illi ghadu f'pozizzjoni li jibqa jitwemmen?? Illum kullhadd jista jaghmel il-homework wahdu! Hallina Sur Fenech! M'ghadnix aktar 'cuc' li nasal biex nemmnek din id-darba. Ic-cans tieghek tliftu ghaliex hlejt lili u lill-poplu Malti hafna zmien imprezzabli li int stajt uzajt sabiex taghmel ir-riformi necessarji fil-produzzjoni ta' energija izda minflok xtrajt PS li tahdem bl-HFO!
Marco Galea
Jan 10th, 14:00
A well prepared presentation as it lays out all the doubts the people are feeling ... A good presentation EVEN THOUGH the MLP is afraid of showing the study because the MLP knows it's not factual and the doubts are real!
The MLP gave us only a presentation of the end result, and not how it calculated it!
Peter Paul Farrugia
Jan 10th, 14:56
Anyone who has ever done feasability studies knows that you have to start from a cost benefit analysis. This was clearly explained by the presentation, as were the other benefits such as better quality air for the south, something which the present goverment has unfortunately never tackled, despite a fully functioning Waste, Air, Radiation and Noise Unit ...
Maria Mangion
Jan 10th, 15:15
Perhaps Tonio can publish the details of the 2 day study that resulted in a 600 million figure. I feel we are being taken for a ride and the only uncontested fact is 800 million euro debt for Enemalta after 25 years of PN.
George Cassar
Jan 10th, 13:59
So, Dear Minister,
Tell us how you will be reducing our tariffs - since now it is do-able as the Prime Minister said yesterday. Do not just throw the PL's proposals away. Tell us YOUR proposals.
Carmelo Sammut
Jan 10th, 13:59
u hallina ministru ma gbajtx id dehhaq niex bik se tibqa sejjer
Roger Mifsud
Jan 10th, 13:58
labour showed us facts u our minister is assuming. why do we have to believe you minister when in the past five years all billos went up???
Lisa Camilleri
Jan 10th, 13:56
can you please post more articles concerning PL's proposals ?
A. MICALLEF
Jan 10th, 13:52
The burden of repaying of the mountain of debts you are leaving behind will require the
rasing of taxes. Shame on you and Shame for a millions times on the PN !
leon camilleri
Jan 10th, 13:52
ahjar ihabbar zewg proposti l-pn milli mohhom biex jikkritikaw lill PL !
R Casha
Jan 10th, 14:48
so true mate!!
PL showed a massive improvement in their politcs...but PN are still way back! The famous Mud Thorwing campaign....meta ha jikbru?!
Anthony Galea
Jan 10th, 13:51
Than why did the PN not do the pipline before and save us all these rates and taxes?
John Bonello
Jan 10th, 14:57
Because the goverment had to wait for the approval of the EU. but again the EU reqiured Enemalta to shut down the Marsa Plant due toxic emissions level beign produced from the plant. So the Gov. opted for a HFO power plant which can be converted later on to gas once the money for the gas pipe line is approved by the EU. Stop watching onenews your getting behind
*Joseph Brincat
Jan 10th, 13:51
A pipeline which have to ( to BE or not to be ) qualified for European funds it takes 6 to 7 years to do ,
WHAT Joseph Muscat proposed its free and in a year we start to benefit !! it's common sense ,
in the meantime we still can try to have a pipeline from the funds from the EU ,
what's wrong if we can have it all ?
COMMON SENSE IS NOT SO COMMON Tonio Fenech
victor ellul
Jan 10th, 13:46
mela ghax ma ghamiltiex bil gas mil.lewwel minflok bil hfo sur fenech?
Raymond Micallef
Jan 10th, 13:44
So today this not a 'gimmick' anymore but became doable!!! Obviously being doable we have to find another consequence, and today it is the higher taxes or tariffs!!!! Can we start hearing the PN's proposals or there is nothing new!!!! We need to hear our politicians selling their products, otherwise it would be another myth!!!
carlos ellul
Jan 10th, 13:42
If it wasn't for the PL we wouldnt even be discussing this issue as the PN was happy raising the bills to unrealistic levels. However I am still interested to read Simon's manifesto. It should be ready be election date wouldn't it?
Victor Calleja
Jan 10th, 13:42
Qares l-gheneb
Mark Brincat
Jan 10th, 13:41
Either "does not work" or "would lead the country to higher debts" ... the truth is that PN have been caught off-guard by PL's proposals, and are now trying to patch up. Ex PN Minister Michael Falzon stated that the proposals are no gimmick ... Falzon, Fenech ... morru ġġieldu f'xi grocer ...
Thomas Anderson
Jan 10th, 13:40
Best form of defence is to attack according to GonziPN. The people out here are dying to hear some of your future plans. Like for instance how are you going to control public defecit.
Eve Axiaq
Jan 10th, 13:40
Fejn kontu qabel Tonio? Fil BWSC? Anyway tant kien hemm duhhan fil kaz tal BWSC li nista nimmagina x'jerga jigri li kieku taghmlu xi progett iehor. Fis- sena 1999 fuq faccata tan-Nazzjon ukoll weghdtu bl-interconnector. Ghaliex twieghdu meta kontu tafu li mhux possibli? Mur erga afdakhom eh!!
Alex Ellul
Jan 10th, 13:39
The gas pipeline is already EU-approved and therefore would be EU funded. The PL's multi-million euro project is not and will have to be paid by our children and grandchilden. Forget it PL.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 10th, 14:45
Have you not read properly - the project is to be mainly funded by the private sector -so what are you on about? Please syop this scaremongering- let's be serious as this is Malta's future at stake.
Leonard Brincat
Jan 10th, 14:45
Mela bhal 5,000,000,000 dejn li hallew tal PN dawk ukoll iridu ihalsuhom uliedna u ulied uliedna habib
Peter Paul Farrugia
Jan 10th, 14:51
Then please explain why it was not implemented.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 14:51
Jekk qatt jigri, din mhux bhal tal-vat gejja, kummiedja fi 3 atti, inaqqsu min naha u nitriplaw min naha l-ohra. Bhal meta ghamlilna il VAT replacment tax 29% u kelli sahansitra jrizenja il-ministru Lino Spiteri
M. Spiteri
Jan 10th, 14:53
mela bhal smart city, dik ukoll uliedna u ulied uliedna qed igawdu mill 5000 job BAHH li gab dal gvern
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 14:56
MLP promis is not feasible because it is a promise made on behalf of others who will not want to deliver and who have no obligation to do so. If you are transferring responsibility for power supply to the private sector, you can’t tell the private sector how to price what it is selling.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:06
pt 1 Given the understanding that a set of eight PV panels would cut my electricity bill by around half, and assuming the set would cost some €6000 now (without grants), this would mean that a set of four such panels without the subsidy would reduce my bills by 25% and cost me €3000.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:07
PT2 Labour’s proposal is estimated to cost the private sector some 2500 EUR per family, for a reduction of ‘an assumed 25%. With this in mind wouldnt it make more sense for whoever this private investor would be, to invest in a solar farm, with the prices ‘guranteed’ to remain 25% cheaper rather than depend on the assumption that gas prices would not increase?
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:09
PT3 Labour keeps insisting on outdated politics by promising the ‘fish’ and not the ‘fishing rod’.
What is more essential is to create a factual operating environment where commercial entities can thrive creating opportunities which in natural distribution will create more opportunities.
C. Bartoli
Jan 10th, 15:09
PT4 When this happens, the price of water and electricity will become irrelevant. This is the only way to solve this issue as energy will always be governed by market prices/forces, meaning, what’s good today may not be good tomorrow.
Peter Paul Farrugia
Jan 10th, 13:37
I would like to ask why these proposals for gas lines and so on and so forth were not proposed before the one Labour has published recently. How come the govermnet was so keen on defending HFO, all the while knowing that there was a cleaner, cheaper alternative ?
In light of this news, are they not also confirming that the BWSC extension is in itself a complete and utter waste of money ?
A Vella
Jan 10th, 14:49
They are already being worked out Peter, the gas pipeline is not something just invented now....To plan how to lay such a pipeline is no quick project and needs time, especially with the EU having to give the go ahead. Many Maltese should wake and smell the coffee after they were taken to dreamland by Joseph, Konrad and co. The more this is scrutinised the more ridiculous it becomes.
Wenzu Cole
Jan 10th, 13:37
He is giving a press conference on a PL proposal.......... The irony
I hope he will give us a tangable alternative..
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