A total of 19 international expressions of interest were submitted by energy companies for long-term power purchase and gas supply agreements.

The proposals were opened at Marsa Power Station.

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said he was very satisfied with the interest attracted by the call, which showed that the project could be implemented.

The submissions will now be evaluated and the shortlisted entities would be known by June 10. They would then be requested to submit more detailed proposal. The winner would be announced by the end of September.

The Labour party swept into power last month on the back of a vow to build a gas-fuelled power station with private sector involvement within the first two years of office.

According to the plan, the power station will be built by a private company, which will then sell the electricity generated to Enemalta. The Government wants the private plant to be manned by Enemalta employees.

The new plant is key to the government's electoral commitment to cut household electricity bills as of next year and commercial ones in 2015.