Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola presented a petition supported by more than 3,000 people emphasising that there has not been any maritime impact assessment carried out on the floating gas storage unit in Marsaxlokk.

The petition also underlines that  the risk to residents would be greatly mitigated should the tanker be berthed outside the bay, with proper security zones around it.

During a speech in the European Parliament, Dr Metsola again urged the Government not to rush with its proposal and said the project may run contrary to the provisions of an EU directive.

"This project runs totally opposite to what is being done by other EU governments that have taken all the necessary precautions with similar projects. An expert in the field recently said that the consequences of a gas leak would be disastrous for Malta and 91 per cent of residents in the area agree with him. There is simply no need to take unnecessary risks and rush things through," she said.

She reiterated her call for the European Commission to investigate any risk to public safety.