Alternattiva Demokratika has called on the government to release a report into the public domain, that has up to now been kept secret, advising it on where to locate incinerators.

Before signing agreements that commit the country to particular strategies for energy and waste management, the results of the waste strategy review should be made available to the public for comment.

AD chairman Harry Vassallo added: “Public consultation on the unfolding strategy for waste to energy has been non-existent. If incinerators (waste-to-energy means the construction of incinerators) are to start being put into operation at Pembroke, Cirkewwa, Ghar Lapsi, Delimara and the Maghtab/Zwejra/Ghallis dump, then the government should announce its strategy openly as befits a civilised European country, rather than keep the strategy under wraps while only hinting at waste-to-energy developments in a fragmented way, veiled in ambiguous wording.”

AD spokesman for Energy, Industry and IT Ralph Cassar concluded: “An earlier proposal to run reverse osmosis plants on solar power seems to have been abandoned. We emphasise our position that our country must embark immediately on programmes to increase the efficiency of our power plants. We also urge the government to start actively considering generating part of the country’s energy needs from renewable sources of energy. As an island nation we should be at the forefront in the fight against global warming. The effect of more greenhouse gases contributing to global warming cannot be ignored.”