The much debated Floating Storage Unit – a gas tanker that will be permanently moored inside Marsaxlokk bay – could be removed in the future and replaced by a gas pipeline or other gas delivery methods, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi announced this evening.
Speaking during a ‘Gvern li jisma’ public dialogue meeting in Birzebbugia, Mr Mizzi said that the government is studying other methods of delivering LNG to the Delimara power plant and will present its proposals to the EU in the future. “If such a project is approved, then yes we will remove the Floating Storage Unit.”
Mr Mizzi said that, in the meantime, the government is promising Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia residents that the highest safety precautions will be followed. “I sleep soundly at night because I know that this project will be of the highest standards and will be safe.” He also insisted that Enemalta is committed to close down the 31 March Birzebbugia oil storage facility. The plant will be relocated to another locality.
New energy tariffs by the end of the month
Mr Mizzi also announced that the new energy tariffs - that will be reduced by an average of 25% depending on consumption, will come into effect on 31 March. Water tariffs will be reduced by an average of 5%. While the new tariffs would come into effect at the end of the month some households could receive bills covering the months preceding the tariff reductions while others might receive “cross-over” bills covering both pre and post reduction periods. The Eco-reduction discount will be continued, regardless of the tariff reductions. These discounts are being automatically deducted from the bill, eliminating the need for queuing.
Reductions are the result of lower power generation costs thanks to the new gas-fired plant. The project, Mr Mizzi insisted, was given a green light because the risks are manageable and the safety zone is adequate. “What the Marsaxlokk residents are against is not an FSU but an incinerator. That will not happen under our watch.”
The Energy Minister insisted that the Labour government found Enemalta in a disastrous state and had debts of almost €1 million. “We found proposals in the Finance Ministry that would have increased the energy tariffs by 30% rather than decrease them.”
Smart meters scandal
Mr Mizzi also spoke on the smart meter tampering scandal and noted that 10 Enemalta employees have been suspended and one person has already convicted. “Our aim was threefold - we want to catch the masterminds, retrieve all the stolen money and penalties and obtain more information about the case.”
He also spoke on the domestic solar panel scheme and said that is has almost been exhausted. More than €21 million EU funds will have been utilized for the project.