The government is working hard to avoid repercussions on the country’s finances as a result of Enemalta’s current financial problems, according to Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, slamming the previous government for opting for heavy fuel oil.

“Had the previous government opted for a gas fuelled power station, things would be different today,” he said.

Speaking in parliament, he said that plans were in the pipeline to shut down the Marsa power plant, and coupled with a gas fuelled power station, power blackouts would be a thing of the past.

He said that Malta is paying a heavy price for emissions that result from the use of heavy fuel oil.

Mr Mizzi said that Malta’s reputation was at stake due to the oil procurement wrongdoings, referring to the oil procurement scandal.

He said that Enemalta’s generation costs were high but the issue was being addressed, while stating that despite the interconnector project being a “good decision”, there's already been a one-year delay.

Mr Mizzi claimed that had the PN been elected to office, tariffs would have been increased by 30%.

He said that the pipeline project is a long-term solution and the government would continue to study the option, however emphasised that Enemalta needed immediate addressing and quick solutions.

On the BWSC-Enemalta contract, he said that Enemalta’s legal representative Camilleri Preziosi’s advice was that the contract was in favour of the BWSC and if Malta sought arbitration proceedings, “we would have lost money”.

Enemalta was suing BWSC for €8 million in damages while BWSC was suing Enemalta €14 million also for damages but both had reached an out-of-court settlement.

Mr Mizzi reiterated his party's major electoral pledge to build a power station operated by gas, inlcuding the use of an "energy mix".