A Labour government would continue to seek funds from the EU for a gas pipeline, candidate Konrad Mizzi told a press conference this afternoon.
He said a pipeline would be complementary to a gas terminal. The terminal, however, was a quicker option which would yield savings of some €177m a year as well as a cleaner environment and lower tariffs. The pipeline was not expected to materialise before some 10 years.
Mr Mizzi made his comments at a press conference held by the Labour Party in reaction to comments made by expert Miles Seaman at a PN press conference (See separate story).
Mr Vella said Mr Seaman's comments had actually shown that Labour's plan would work.
He said that Labour was confirming its energy plan because it would lead to a 25% drop in power tariffs and a 5% drop in water tariffs for residential users from March next year, followed by businesses a year later.
Mr Vella rejected safety doubts which some quarters had sought to raise about an LNG plant. He noted that Mr Seaman himself, in his long career, had not encountered any incidents in gas plants.
He noted that Mr Seaman had described the Labour plan as 'ambitious,' but he had said it was doable and one should never say 'impossible'.
He had also said that any risk could be mitigated, especially in concept and design. Mention was also made of the Seveso directives, which Labour would respect
Mr Seaman himself had endorsed the use of gas over heavy fuel oil.
Dr Mizzi said that reports to the government over several years had pointed to using gas for the power station but mysteriously the government had opted for heavy fuel oil. Had the government opted for gas, Malta would already be enjoying cleaner, cheaper electricity.
Mr Mizzi said he wanted to 'thank' Mr Seaman because he had confirmed that Labour's option of gas over heavy fuel oil was the best choice.
He said the Labour would not compromise safety and all designs had to comply to the Seveso directive. All the facilities would be built on the current Delimara footprint, which former Enemalta chairman Joe Ellul Vincenti said was good enough for the new facilities.
The new plant would be more distant from houses than the new Gasco plant in Benghajsa.
Regarding the availability of ships, Dr Mizzi said companies had proposed a number of options. Some said they could use small ships which would berth alongside the terminal. Others said they could use larger ships which would anchor in the middle of the bay. Others said they could use bigger ships and the gas would be transferred from another location.
Dr Mizzi said there was no doubt that the community of Marsaxlokk preferred a gas facility instead of the current power stations which used heavy fuel oil, causing cancer and asthma.
Mr Mizzi insisted that the Labour energy plan's costings were accurate and based on similar projects abroad. He also insisted that the timelines were achievable, including the health aspects. He was confident that the safety case would be completed within three months. Procurement would be transparent and competitive, based on high technology at the lowest possible price.