Joseph Muscat said the interconnector cable was expected to start delivering electricity in the next three weeks but insisted it would have been a mistake to be dependent only on it.

Addressing Labour Party supporters in Senglea this evening, the Prime Minister said the previous administration's route plans had to be changed because the interconnector was going to pass through an active oil exploration zone.

"We found the interconnector cable way behind schedule but with hard work we managed to get it going," Dr Muscat said, as he pitched his electoral message on the energy sector.

He said at last week's European Council meeting, member states were arguing in favour of reaching energy arrangements with countries like China and Azerbaijan.

"I could have phoned Simon Busuttil to tell him that they were arguing exactly the opposite of what he is arguing in Malta," Dr Muscat joked, as he ridiculed the Opposition leaders's criticism of the government's energy plans.

Dr Muscat said the film industry in Malta grew by 650 per cent in the last two years as he gave wind of another major film production that will be shot here. He did not elaborate.

To rising applause he urged supporters to go out and vote for Labour candidates in the local elections on April 11.

"These are elections that are normally won by opposition parties but we want to break this pattern," he said.

At the start of the meeting Dr Muscat asked his audience to remain standing for a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Germanwings air crash in France.