It is interesting to note how the Nationalist Party interpreted the Labour opposition’s vote in Parliament on the liberalisation of the energy (gas) sector issue as a vote against the relocation of the Enemalta gas plant located in Qajjenza. The Nationalist Party is trying to twist the facts by interpreting the issue incorrectly, thereby hiding the real truth from the public about the real effects of liberalisation of such an important sector, essentially meaning higher prices, lesser control and lack of consumer protection.
This politically motivated spin is a dishonest political move, not surprisingly from the same government which has been promising the relocation of the Qajjenza gas plant for the last 20 years. This is yet another situation where this administration prefers to proceed without telling the truth to the Maltese electorate and in particular, the most affected, the Birzebbuga residents.
As early as 1991, the Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands identified the need for new facilities for the oil and gas industry at Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga to be located away from urban areas, and the removal of existing installations.
This was further substantiated by the Marsaxlokk Bay Local Plan which was published in 1993, whereby policies MQ02, MQ03 referred to the importance of relocation of the Qajjenza LPG plant and stated that the Planning Authority, with the cooperation of Enemalta, should relocate this plant to a suitable site in Benghajsa. The plan also identified a use for the site following its relocation. To this effect the Planning Authority would have been in a position to consider residential and commercial development or the development of a yard for the storage of boats.
The Nationalist newspaper in-Nazzjon, a year later (15 February, 1994) printed a front page report claiming that Enemalta Corporation is in the process of relocating the Qajjenza LPG plant to a site in Benghajsa. In-Nazzjon also reported that the preparations for this relocation were in advanced stages and imminent to taking place. The same article stated that a site selection exercise was carried out by Enemalta and a massive investment was envisaged to take place on the site following the issue of a public tender. As usual neither the public tender nor the plant’s relocation ever materialised.
Prior to the EU Referendum and the 2003 general elections, the government agency Malta-EU Information Centre, run by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, responsible to provide correct information related to Malta’s accession to the European Union, stated that the Qajjenza plant should be permanently closed down and relocated away from the existing residential area to another suitable site.
Statement no. 82 of the MIC pamphlet published before the EU referendum stated that this relocation should take place before the day Malta joined the European Union on 1 May, 2004. However four years later the Qajjenza plant is still operating on stream to the detriment of the Birzebbuga residents.
Dr Lawrence Gonzi’s interpretation of the Labour vote in Parliament regarding the liberalisation of the gas energy sector is an old tactic which we all are accustomed to by now. It just seeks to alienate the Maltese public from the realistic problems we are facing in the energy sector.
Labour repeatedly declared in the past it is not against the relocation of the Qajjenza plant. In fact had it been a Labour government following the 1998 general elections this plant would have been relocated completely as part of the South Regeneration programme planned for the South of Malta.
Roderick Galdes is Malta Labour Party spokesman for planning