Driving down to Marsaxlokk and not seeing the tall structure of the old power station chimney is something which I didn't imagine happening for years. As a child, I used to go with my parents to the Sunday market, and the chimney was a constant feature of the area. I remember being impressed that it could also be seen from other parts of Malta, such as Rabat and Dingli.
It wasn't pleasant, however, whenever I used to ask about it, the answer was always that it was 'essential'. The power station produced energy which houses, factories, restaurants and many other outlets could not do without.
Malta is changing as we speak, and the old power station chimney is now merely a symbol of all the change we are experiencing as a country. This chimney, from which black smoke used to emerge on a daily basis because of the heavy fuel oil that used to be consumed in order to produce electricity, is nearly dismantled, and from what Ihave read, it will be completely taken down by the end of August.
This follows the removal of the Marsa Power Station chimneys and the closing down of the old power stations in Marsa. Both initiatives are tangible proof of this Government's commitment towards sustainable environment, better quality of air, and the fight against climate change. Plants replacing old ones are now working with Liquefied Natural Gas.
This was not an easy task. A Labour Government promised to deliver what wasn't done in a quarter of a century in a few years. And it has succeeded.
From the reduction of electricity tariffs that lessened the burden on citizens and businesses, to the guarantee of energy supply.
On the latter there was a clear plan that was continuously obstructed by the party in Opposition. There were protests, there were questions to the European Commission and there were scaremongering campaigns. Above all there were lies. Former Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, and high officials of the Nationalist Party such as David Agius, Robert Arrigo and Clyde Puli, argued that the country did not need a new power station and that the interconnector was enough. However, when the interconnector didn't work because of disruptions from Sicily, everyone was made aware of just how important the new power station is.
When recently an Italian politician threatened that Italy could stop the energy supply we get through the interconnector (even though he knows he cannot), it was made clear just how intelligent is the Government's plan not to be dependent on one source of energy.
Therefore, next time you drive down to Marsaxlokk, do not just appreciate the fact that there is a a far more pleasant view. Remember that the removal of the chimney is a symbol of a wider plan, an ongoing plan.
Preliminery work for the building of an undersea gas pipeline connecting Malta to mainland Europe is already underway and is expected to be ready in a few years. The completion of this pipeline will also mean that the LNG tanker will leave the port of Marsaxlokk.
Until now, this process included the assessing of the undersea route between Delimara and Gela in Sicily, carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment studies in both Malta and Italy, and conducting front-end engineering design studies. Details of all public contracts have been published on the Government's electronic tendering portal.
The plans for a Malta-Italy gas pipeline got off the ground at the end of last year, when both Malta and Italy launched permitting procedures. A first public consultation process was launched at the end of March this year. Once completed, the pipeline will connect Malta to the Trans-European Gas Network and multi million project will be 50 per cent co-financed through EU funding.
Only a Labour Government promised and delivered cheaper tariffs and cleaner air, and only a Labour Government could be entrusted with the completion of this much needed change.
Ronald Vassallo is Communications Coordinator, Partit Laburista