Azzjoni Nazzjonali whisked journalists off to the UK on Tuesday for a flying visit to a gasification plant in the outskirts of London to prove the existence of "more modern technology" than the Sant'Antnin waste recycling plant in Marsascala and that waste-to-energy plants were the way forward.

The "cheap and cheerful" plant, the dynamics of which have been kept simple, converts "muck to gas", with zero emissions, according to its developer, First London Power technical director Peter Stein, who insisted that gasification was the alternative to incineration - a no-go!

Speaking on site, AN leader Josie Muscat, who was instrumental in opposing the controversial Sant'Antnin plant, said the government should dismantle and replace it with waste-to-energy systems that were smaller, more efficient and clean.

The UK plant can cater for half a tonne of waste every hour, producing half a megawatt of power from whatever was fed into it, enabling it to heat 2,000 homes, turning waste into a commodity, Mr Stein said.

According to their calculations, AN said Malta would only need two three-tonne units to handle the same amount of yearly waste as Sant'Antnin (71,000 tonnes by the end of the year). However, these units would only cover an area of 3,000 square metres as opposed to the 47,000 square metre footprint of the Marsacala plant.

The Sant' Antnin plant should supply energy to about 1,400 homes, Dr Muscat pointed out.

Three gasification plants would be required - one in Gozo, one in the north and one in the south of Malta, AN deputy leader Anġlu Xuereb maintained, stressing that it would avoid the useless transportation of waste from Gozo to the south of Malta, saving road miles.

Although the company was open to offers, it normally sought joint ventures and the preferred arrangement was that the client provided the land and the building and supplied the waste, company consultant Tony Burbanks said.

First London Power would charge for the waste and set up the plant at its own expense, while the client would establish a price at which to sell the energy generated, with 70 per cent going to the client.

The system was much cheaper, AN maintained, considering that Sant'Antnin cost €27 million (Lm11,591,100).

Mr Stein described the plant as efficient, involving a low-cost operation, is small-scale and unobtrusive, environment-friendly and naturally clean in that it did not produce dioxins.

Located in an industrial area - but close to the block of flats in which notorious award-winning singer Amy Winehouse is said to reside - it would be supplying electricity for the neighbouring London Olympics, possibly taking the waste it generated.

With the slogan Where There Is Muck There Is Gas, the plant can use diverse fuel - from food to factory, municipal and industrial waste and sewage but barring non-combustible, sizeable items, Mr Stein said. Waste separation is still required but could also be carried out at the plant.