The Opposition yesterday continued to pile pressure on the government to reveal its plans on the gas power plant.
It also accused the government of interfering in the judicial process involving the Enemalta head of accounts who was accused of stealing electricity – he remains suspended.
Nationalist Party deputy leader Mario de Marco said despite various attempts by the Opposition and the media, the government had still not given any indication of when the work on the new power plant was going to start.
He said although the Prime Minister admitted more than a month ago that the gas power plan had fallen behind schedule, it was still holding back information.
Speaking at a press conference Dr de Marco said the government pledged that the new power station had to be commissioned by March 2015 and that the new business tariffs were to be introduced at the same time, on the back of cheaper energy to be produced by the new plant.
Can the Prime Minister please tell us how he is going to finance the shortfall resulting from the new tariff
“The only thing we now know is that work on the new power plant has not even started. Can the Prime Minister please tell us how he is going to finance the shortfall resulting from the new tariffs,” he asked.
He said the government was also mum on other aspects of the project, including the €30 million upfront payment that the winning consortium had to fork out after signing the contract, and whether it was true that one of the main partners in the consortium, Gasol, was facing financial difficulties.
“We are also still waiting for the government to publish the contract it made for this €370 million power plant,” Dr de Marco said.
Turning to the latest arraignments in connection with electricity theft, energy spokesman George Pullicino accused the government of interfering in the course of justice in the case of Louis Attard – the head of accounts at Enemalta’s contracts division, who he described as “very close to Minister Konrad Mizzi”.
Mr Pullicino said that although Mr Attard was a high official, he was only charged as a “normal” client who had allegedly stolen electricity and not as a public officer.
“Why was Mr Attard treated differently from other Enemalta employees? Who intervened with the prosecution to lower Mr Attard’s charges?” Mr Pullicino asked.
He expected Dr Mizzi or “some other minister” to answer these serious accusations.
Reacting, Dr Mizzi again denied any connection with Mr Attard and said the Enemalta worker had been employed with the corporation in 2005 under a PN government.
He added that Mr Attard was never involved in his electoral campaigns and accused Mr Pullicino of trying to discredit him.
Meanwhile, MP Ryan Callus called on the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision to anchor an LNG tanker in Marsaxlokk once the power plant project was no longer going to be ready by the March 2015 date. He said an alternative system could easily be adopted to avoid danger.