The debate in Parliament today on the new power plant will allow the government to outline its plans to save Enemalta, switch power generation to gas and clamp down on electricity theft, the Prime Minister said yesterday.

The debate will be held at the request of the Opposition, in the wake of the announcement that the new gas-fired plant at Delimara would not be delivered by March, as the Labour Party had pledged.

Addressing the Gozo Regional Congress, Joseph Muscat said the Opposition was in a state of panic as it had not accepted the fact that the government had kept its word to lower domestic utility rates and was on track to do likewise for commercial users by March.

Dr Muscat said the fact that energy did not feature in the various policy fora set up by the Nationalist Party was significant.

The Prime Minister criticised a suggestion by the Opposition to introduce second pillar pensions, saying that, for the time being, the economy could not afford further increases in social security contribution. Nevertheless, he said the government had just introduced voluntary third pillar pensions and was intent to better existing retirement pensions.

Dr Muscat also spoke about plans for an “environmentally-sustainable” airstrip in Gozo, saying that PWC and Grant Thornton had been commissioned to conduct preliminary feasibility studies.

Saying he was in favour of a grass airstrip, he pointed out that the final decision would have to be backed by environmental considerations.

Dr Muscat expressed himself in favour of a permanent connection between Malta and Gozo, such as a bridge or a tunnel, but this would depend on the outcome of the feasibility study financed by a Chinese company.

On the economic front, he said that, for the very first time, the number of bed nights in Gozo this year would reach one million, partly due to domestic tourism.

Meanwhile, a consortium had expressed interest for the construction of a cruise liner terminal on the sister island, Dr Muscat said.

He noted that the film-making industry was also making headway, thanks to efforts by the government to promote Gozo as an alternative location to Malta.

Dr Muscat thanked outgoing Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona and expressed the hope that the new leader of the Maltese Church would follow in his footsteps.

He said Mgr Cremona set the example by defending the Church’s values without ever involving himself in the political arena.

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