The PL  will keep their energy proposal and will reduce the energy tariffs by a minimum of 25%, Labour spokesman for finance Karmenu Vella and PL candidate  Konrad Mizzi held during a press conference this afetrnoon.

The PL beliefs that this will result in a better financial situation for our country and will secure the jobs of those who work in Enemalta. “The PN keep giving figures which are wrong,” Karmenu Vella continued.

The press conference was in rebuttal to that held by the Nationalist Party, where Mr Miles A Seaman, an external expert, claimed that building the new station will take longer than two years and that it is not safe to build the gas tanks where the PL are proposing. “Architects have said that on this reclaimed land you can already find two fully built turbines and four storage tanks”, Mr Vella argued. Minister Fenech has not understood the PL’s plans, he argued, explaining that the PL’s plan is to create the same amount of energy, but with efficiency and for a cheaper cost.

Taking the podium, Konrad Mizzi said that a gas pipeline would still be built and it would be complementary to the gas plant. In response to this morning’s allegations by Mr Seaman that the new plant will not be safe, Konrad Mizzi explained that “Mr Seaman had never encountered any gas tank explosions in his career”. In addition, he promised that the plant will adhere to the Seveso directives on safety and that all plans show that everything will be built within the Delimara footprint. “Mr Seaman himself said that gas is better than heavy fuel oil”, the Labour candidate said.

When speaking about shipping problems, Konrad Mizzi argued that companies had proposed a number of options, varying from small ships to large tankers. In addition, it was explained that the cost of this project is based on similar projects which have been undertaken around the world.

A Labour government will continue to try and get EU funds for a gas pipeline,PL announced.