[WATCH] Muscat reiterates pipeline will fit 'perfectly' in PL plans

Labour leader Joseph Muscat said that the pipeline connecting Malta to the European mainland, to which the PN government applied for EU funds, was not a substitute to the power station but a source of fossil fuel.

Addressing a press conference in Fgura, Muscat said the Nationalist Party have failed to grasp the concept behind Labour's energy plan.

Asked why Labour felt the need to "build a new power station", Muscat said that the pipeline was the means by which fossil fuel would reach Malta.

"The pipeline will fit perfectly in our plan," he said, once again refuting suggestions that the PL has already chosen the private company that will be responsible of running the private section of Malta's electricity generation.

Muscat said that Labour's plan to build a regasification unit at Delimara and develop an LNG terminal was "the preferred option that can be carried out in the shortest time possible".

Muscat added that the Nationalist government had also looked into building an LNG terminal at Delimara. Asked whether this was feasible due to it being reclaimed land, Muscat said that location of the storage tanks was only one of other options where they could be located on site.

"However, we are confident that it is doable but we will also consider other available options," he said.

While government is still awaiting approval of EU funds for the pipeline, the Malta-Sicily energy interconnector comes into operation after 2014.

Pressed by journalists to say what was the environmentalists' view on Labour's gas plan and setup, Muscat said that all NGOs have long been expressing their support to a gas-run power station rather than Heavy Fuel Oil.

He also said that government had already carried out an Environment Impact Assessment on the use of gas.

Muscat reiterated that localities in the South will receive environmental compensation through the development and regeneration of recreational sites and a cleaner air quality.