Labour leader defends plan

Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday said he could not understand why the Government did not believe its own consultants.

Dr Muscat defended his party’s energy plan when asked about the doubts raised on the cost to build the gas infrastructure and new power station, which could impact the tariff reduction pledge.

“This tells me the Government is not trusting its own consultants,” he said when confronted by journalists outside the Marsa power station.

The consultants that drew up the Labour plan, Dutch company Kema, also provided consultancy work to Enemalta last year.

Dr Muscat said Finance Minister Tonio Fenech must have had “a vision by Our Lady” when he said the gas storage tanks would require an expense of €40 million to be built in the area identified during Tuesday’s presentation.

It was a jibe with reference to an article Mr Fenech wrote two years ago on divorce, in which he said the Virgin Mary must be weeping.

Dr Muscat said a Labour government would close the Marsa plant as soon as possible, adding that a call for expression of interest to turn the site into a recreational and commercial zone would be issued.

Dr Muscat reiterated a pledge to safeguard all Enemalta jobs and said the private operator could use the state company’s employees to operate the new gas plant.