Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning said that Labour's biggest electoral pledge was to reduce the energy tariffs. This was done in March this year for households and will be done for industry next year.
He was replying to questions following Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi's admission that the power station project will not be completed by March 2015, the deadline established by the Labour Party before the last election.
Dr Muscat insisted that although the power station project is vital, it is part of the government's energy plan but "it is not everything".
When asked when Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi is due to give a statement in Parliament regarding his admission to the delay of the new power station project when he said that the project's works were on track many a time, Dr Muscat said that this will take place on Wednesday. Dr Mizzi is currently in China holding talks with Shanghai Electric, the Chinese company which has a stake in Enemalta. He said on track meant that the electricity tariff reductions pledge had been implemented.
New parliament
When asked by this newsroom if contractors were still being fined for delays on the completion of the new parliament building, Dr Muscat replied in the affirmative and said that discussions are underway to establish the date when the building is to be opened. Pro-government newspaper l-orizzont has said that the building will be opened in December.
Local council elections
Dr Muscat told this newsroom that there is a near-total consensus on the issue of local council elections, as only the Opposition is the only interested party that is against the postponement of the elections by four years.
Illegal boathouses
Turning to the electricity meters granted to owners of illegal boathouses, Dr Muscat said that it could not go on any longer that certain individuals were stealing electricity by connecting their electricity cables to Enemalta's.
"At least until the issue of the boathouses is discussed, the boathouse owners are paying for their electricity," he said.