Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi will have an office at Delimara power station to ensure the Government's plan to create a gas infrastructure is delivered on time.

He said April will see the publication of an international call for expression of interest for the proposed infrastructure that will include a gas handling facility and a 200MW gas-fired power plant.

Dr Mizzi spoke to timesofmalta.com after addressing a seminar on renewable energy this morning in Qawra.

The energy shift to gas was a central plank of the Labour Party's electoral campaign and key to lower utility tariffs for households and businesses.

The Government wants to close the bidding process by the end of summer as it faces a tight, self-imposed deadline to start lowering tariffs by an average of 25 per cent by March next year.

"It is ambitious but we can do it," Dr Mizzi said, adding a project team was being set up involving Enemalta engineers and outside experts covering various fields. "This is why I will have an office at Delimara power station to show my full commitment to delivering this project as promised."

When asked whether he had the full cooperation of Enemalta personnel, Dr Mizzi noted that the energy company's executive chairman Louis Giordimaina was a key player in the gas project.

Dr Mizzi explained that on taking up his appointment, he met with the chief executives of the various entities that fell under his portfolio to assess at what stage pending projects had arrived.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com