This evening marks the end of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to produce electricity for Malta and Gozo, with the Delimara power station officially running on natural gas as from this evening.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, addressing the inauguration said:

“We have closed, once and for all, the use of HFO in Malta. We have closed, once and for all, a cancer factory. Today, it has been confirmed, that Malta is running on clean energy production.

“When the people gave us our mandate, we had a clear roadmap in mind.”

He listed the several state companies that were left in a state of financial disarray, adding that this roadmap has achieved a lot, not the least cleaner air – especially for people living in the South.

“We are proud to be witness to this historic event. This was a dream which we have achieved.”

Referring to the Delimara chimney, which was needed for the use of HFO, he promised the public that it will be dismantled in the coming months.

He acknowledged the delays in the project, stating that in order to ensure that it was carried out in the most transparent way possible, working with the European Commission at every step.

Dr Muscat called the inclusion of the private sector in the provision of electricity by the state is a “breakthrough”.

Through the reduction of electricity bills, businessmen and families alike are able to invest and are also given some breathing room, he added.

He stressed that the government has made some mistakes, but pleaded for the public not to ignore the benefits it has achieved for the people.

Minister without portfolio Konrad Mizzi said that this event is truly important for Malta and its families.

Dr Mizzi previously held the energy portfolio, together with health, but was stripped of his portfolios for owning an offshore Panama company and being the European sitting minister to be named in the Panama Papers scandal.

Echoing a similar sentiment to that of the Prime Minister, Dr Mizzi added mentioned the proposal the Floating Storage Unit, which the public was not made aware of until after the Labour Party came into power.

He said that the FSU “allows” the tanker “to be a temporary measure so that once the pipeline is built we [the government] can have it removed.”

Many felt uneasy at the thought of a floating tanker carrying liquefied natural gas inside the harbour of Birzebuga.

 “We worked hard to integrate this project with another big project, the BWSC Shanghai Electric power plant so that we did not have to fork out one cent.”

He thanked his permanent secretary for working round the clock to get the necessary permits, as well as all different safety departments such as the Civil Protection Department who helped ensure the highest safety standards.

 “I am satisfied to work with the Prime Minister, who had a long-term vision for Malta, who is leading Malta as it deserves to be led. I am satisfied that the initiatives we have been working on have improved the lives of people in Malta and Gozo”.

The Electrogas consortium comprises of Gem holdings [made up of local big players], Siemens and Socar – the Azerbaijani state oil and gas company.

The new power station will be able to provide clean energy of up to 200 MW.

This evening, Gas-fired turbines have been turned on have been switched on at Delimara Power Station, ending the use of heavy fuel oil. The last turbines running on Heavy-Fuel-Oil (HFO) have been switched off, while the inauguration of the Electrogas power plant took place this evening. Both the Prime Minister and Dr Mizzi had come under heavy fire for being just over two years late with the project.

In the run-up to the 2013 general election, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat promised to resign if the project was not completed in a 2 year time-frame. The former Malta Environment and Planning Authority had approved the Delimara power station permit applications following an intense eight-hour marathon session. The big debate centred around the berthing of a tanker providing liquefied natural gas to the new 215MW plant at Delimara, inside Marsaxlokk harbour.

Two seperate votes on the gas-fuelled power plant and the floating storage facility were taken and both went through with nine votes against two. The two negative votes came from Natioanlist Party representative Ryan Callus and Alex Vella from the Ramblers association. 

 

'Monument to corruption'

In a statement the PN said the Prime Minsiter had inaugurated the ‘monument to corruption.’

“Muscat has bound the country to buy energy from this power station for 18 years at a price that is double that of the interconnector. This is not in the best interest of the public,” it said.

 

The PN said Joseph Muscat had sold Enemalta for €320 million and the person he had negotiated with from Shanghai Electric Power was also caught with a secret company, opened by the PM’s consultant, in the British Virgin Islands. 

Photos: Baskal Mallia