The reduced electricity tariffs will kick in on March 31, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi announced last night.
Electricity consumed from that day onwards will be at least 25 per cent cheaper and water tariffs will go down by five per cent.
Dr Mizzi’s session in the dialogue series with members of the Cabinet was dominated by questions on the controversial location of the gas storage tanker, adjacent to the new gas fired power station in Marsaxlokk Bay.
Many asked whether it was true that the tanker posed a danger to the populations of Marsaxlokk and the surrounding areas. Others asked whether it would be possible to continue to fish in the area and others pointed out that it might be better to place the tanker full of LNG outside the port. Clearly conscious of the controversy, Dr Mizzi reassured his audience several times that the government was taking all the necessary safety precautions and there was no risk from the facility.
However, to put people’s minds at rest, the government was committed to replacing it with a gas pipeline from Sicily if found to be feasible, he said.
The floating storage facility is indeed safe and there is no need for this scaremongering
Dr Mizzi also introduced Alfred Vella to the audience and asked him to explain that there was no risk to the population from the new power station.
According to Prof. Vella, an expert in chemical accidents, fire and explosion, the floating storage facility is indeed safe and there is no need for the scaremongering.
Dr Mizzi had harsh words for the Opposition over what he said was an orchestrated campaign against the new power plant project. Everyone should rest assured that there was no danger, he said. “I can assure you that I sleep well at night as I am taking all the precautions to make sure that there will be no risk.”
He talked of the huge benefits that the new power plant would bring to the health of people living in the south as emissions would be reduced by more than half and most of the damaging gases released in the air would be eliminated.
Turning to the petrol storage facilities in Birżebbuġa, Dr Mizzi said the facility would be closed down and relocated. He gave no further details.
On the theft of electricity from smart meters exposed recently, he said the government was taking the issue seriously but was most interested in catching the masterminds.
Because of the amnesty given to consumers, more evidence was emerging on the Enemalta employees who were behind the scheme. He urged more consumers to come forward with information in order to make sure they benefited from the amnesty.
The government, he said, was committed to achieving its renewable energy targets by the end of the decade.
Malta must produce 10 per cent of its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020.
At the moment, all Malta’s energy needs come from fossil fuels.