The House of Representatives has started a six-hour debate requested by the Opposition on the contract for the extension of the power station in Delimara.
The Opposition motion was moved by PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia on behalf of Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
The motion recognises the need for a secure power supply and for the cost of electricity to be kept within reasonable limits in the interests of industrial competitiveness and the cost of living. It also underscores the need for power generation facilities to be safe, environmentally friendly, and efficient.
It says that the process for the granting of the power station extension contract was vitiated in view of unethical behaviour by the chosen bidder BWSC, and its local representative.
The motion condemns minister Austin Gatt for having delayed the extension and for the way the new plant machinery was chosen, especially because it was environmentally harmful and would also be harmful to people's health. The new plant would also produce many tons of toxic flyash every day.
The motion says the new plant is a prototype and the people of Marsaxlokk and its environs would therefore be guinea pigs.
The choice of this plant would raise costs for the people, and the House was therefore urging the Prime minister to remedy the situation.
In his introduction, Dr Farrugia said this was a 'corrupt contract' and any vote in favour of the government in this debate would be a vote against the report of the Auditor-General about it.
Dr Farrugia hit out at the government for having selected plant equipment which would operate on heavy fuel oil instead of gas.
He said it was shameful that just one copy of only parts of the contract had been made available to MPs, and this only this morning.
Dr Farrugia said the government had not put in place legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act and a proper Whistle blower Act to weed out corruption and ensure there was transparency in public administration.
The Labour deputy leader said the PN government was not interested in the national interest but had protected its friends such as contractor Zaren Vassallo. The Enemalta chairman, an employee of Mr Vassallo, had only declared his conflict of interest after appointing the members of adjudicating committees.
Dr Farrugia said it was a disgrace that the governemnt had signed this contract even when calls for an investigation by the auditor had started.
"BWSC rode roughshod over us" Dr Farrugia said.
Administrative law and principles of good governance had been violated, Dr Farrugia said, and after such a 'national tragedy' the government should apologise to the people.
He asked if the Attorney-General had a copy of the Auditor-General's report and whether the EU authorities would investigate.