Muscat dubs power stations ‘disease-generating factories’

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has described power stations running on heavy fuel oil as "factories generating diseases". He also confirmed that he would be ready to resign as Prime Minister if Labour's energy plan failed.

Speaking during weekly discussion programme Affari Taghna, Muscat said that removing polluting power stations to safeguard the people's health was reason enough to go ahead with his party's plan.

He added that he would also invite a child from Marsaxlokk to inaugurate the removal of the Delimara power station's chimney.

Muscat heard a grandmother of nine talk about relatives who died of cancer and a three-year-old grandchild who is sick with cancer.

"My father died of cancer and eight of my nine grandchildren suffer from asthma. Each day is spent at health centres. And now, our three-year-old grandchild has been diagnosed with cancer," the woman from Marsaxlokk said.

During the programme, a former Enemalta engineer described the PL's energy plan as "doable" and went on to say that Europe would consider Labour's proposed unit cost as "still expensive".

The engineer, Jonathan Scerri, added that the finance minister's claim that the energy demand is expected to increase by 1% "means that he either knows that our economy is not going to grow or he is underestimating".

Sitting among the audience together with his wife Michelle, Muscat "positively noted" that criticism from the government's side had changed from "statements of 'impossible to reduce tariffs' to agreeing on the concept."

"At the same time I am a bit worried. I don't expect everyone to agree with us and we welcome criticism and proposals. But then the finance minister said this plan is going to be a failure... And that is why I worry: because Tonio Fenech is an expert in failures," the Labour leader jibed.

Muscat said that the power stations, which run on heavy fuel oil, were "factories generating diseases" like asthma and cancer.

The panel during this evening's programme was made up of MHRA President Tony Zahra, PL candidate and energy plan spokesman Konrad Mizzi, entrapreneur Mariella Scerri and hydrologist Marco Cremona.

Armed with a folder full of documents, Mizzi was welcomed to rigorous applause by the audience.

"Yes, I am convinced that we will reduce utility bills," Mizzi replied matter-of-factly to Affari Taghna presenter John Bundy.

Mizzi said Malta was the only European country that utilised heavy fuel oil to run its power station.

On his part, Marco Cremona described the energy plan as "interesting" and that it had "shocked" people. "The proposal met all expectations and the proposal seems to be professional and detailed," he said.

He was however disappointed that the energy plan included a reduction in water tariffs and went on to make a number of suggestions on how to save and reuse water.

"Where will the money to make heavy investment in this sector come from?" Cremona asked, to which Muscat replied only a part of the 5% savings from water bills will go back to the consumers. The rest will be invested by the Water Services Corporation.

Muscat added that proposals regarding water will be revealed in the coming days.

Cremona argued that the plan was "essentially a risk" of the Labour Party and not of the country. He said that if the plan failed, it would not only reflect badly on a Labour government but on Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister. "I expect that if the plan failed, Muscat would then have to resign as Prime Minister," Cremona said, to which Muscat replied "yes".

Muscat added that he was putting himself on the line because he was sure his plan would work.

On his part, Tony Zahra reiterated that Malta had the second highest rate of energy among European countries. "We found that this was caused by inefficient power generation. We have long been raising this issue and urging policymakers to find a solution. We are finally seeing one proposal. Even though I admit that I would like to hear more, if this remains the only plan proposed, then we should go for it," he said.

Mariella Scerri likened the utility rates to rent and said that when the consumers' spending power is decreased this effects the sales of businesses which in turn created a vicious cycle.

The programme was held in Marsaxlokk under a tent built as a dome. Every week, Affari Taghna will be held in a different locality and part of the programme's new set up also includes testimonials.

Party merchandise and food stalls surrounded the tent outside, where hundreds gathered to follow the programme on big screens.

The audience also included PL candidates Luciano Busuttil, Joe Sammut, Edward Scicluna, George Vella, Karmenu Vella and Anthony Zammit.