MEP questions legality of Malta’s power station plans
Jean-Pierre Audy MEP flagged possible transparency concerns in the call for tenders for a power station complex that is intended to be fully operational by March 2015.
31 May 2013, 12:00am
Raphael Vassallo
Raphael Vassallo
2 min read
MEP Jean Pierre Audy
Government's plans to build a new power station within two years may fall foul of EU laws governing public procurement and environmental standards, if queries raised by a member of the European Parliament are heeded by the Commission.
In a written parliamentary question submitted on May 15, Jean-Pierre Audy, of the European People's Party, flagged possible transparency concerns in the call for tenders for a power station complex that is intended to be fully operational by March 2015.
"The Government of the Republic of Malta, acting through a public entity, Enemalta Corporation, has published a call for expressions of interest and energy supply capacity information," Audy observed.
"It would seem that Enemalta Corporation has decided, for this purpose, to follow a procedure about which there are transparency concerns, in particular regarding the application of EU public procurement rules. The submission deadline was 10 May 2013. According to my information, this project will require a regasification plant, gas storage tanks and a 200 MW power generating unit to be built. Furthermore, the specifications seem to overlook environmental and safety issues. Commissioning is scheduled for 31 March 2015."
Audy queried whether the Commission had been consulted over this project, and whether the process followed by the Maltese government - including in particular the specifications and the contract award procedures - is in compliance with community law.
The government's energy plans were a key factor in Labour leader Joseph Muscat's electoral campaign, much of which hinged on popular disgruntlement at the rising costs of electricity and the widespread perception of corruption in Enemalta's former fuel procurement arrangements.
Energy minister Konrad Mizzi unveiled a plan to reduce the price of electricity from the current 18 cents per unit to 9.6 cents per unit, which depends on three factors: the conversion of the present BWSC plant to natural gas (LNG); the electricity interconnector which is already being developed between Malta and Sicily; and the construction of a privately-owned 200MW gas-fired plant.
According to the terms of the contract, a private company would have to fork out €142 million to finance a gas storage facility that will enable Malta to import gas from ships, and invest €166 million in a new gas-fired plant which will be contractually bound to sell 200MW of electricity at a set price for 10 years.
On its part, the Maltese government will be contractually bound to buy 40% of its energy needs from a private operator for the next 25 years.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is on record affirming that he will resign if these conditions are not met within the stipulated time-frame of two years.
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To whoever passed the information to Mr Jean Pierre Audy so that the later will raise this question in a written Parliamentary question. Where were you during the BWSC saga?Have you ever been to Marsaxlokk since the BWSC plant became operational?
What are you honestly concerned about,the benefit that Malta will get with two Power Stations running on Gas with lower tariff rates, cleaner air and better conditions for attracting more industries in Malta thus improving also the economic situation in Malta, or maybe some clique who believe that they have the right to leach Malta and its ordinary citizens
Emmanuel Mallia •
Is PN trying to do obstacles here as well ?
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Simon Busuttil sending in the clowns!
Where was this MEP Jean Pierre Audy during the BWSC SAGA with the fishy dealings that went on with record commissions amounting to more than €4,000,0000, lack of transparency, Auditor's reports,!
THE BWSC SAGA and the dealing not only smelt fishy but literally STANK to high heaven , but the stick seem not to have reached this PNteam Clown!
How does this MEP~ PNclown measure transparency... by looking up contractors in the Yellow Pages????
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/BWSC-hearings-Joe-Mizzi-chose-Zaren-Vassallo-s-company-off-the-Yellow-Pages
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Simon Busuttil sending in the clowns!
Where was this MEP Jean Pierre Audy during the BWSC SAGA with the fishy dealings that went on with record commissions amounting to more than €4,000,0000, lack of transparency, Auditor's reports,!
THE BWSC SAGA and the dealing not only smelt fishy but literally STANK to high heaven , but the stick seem not to have reached this PNteam Clown!
How does this MEP~ PNclown measure transparency... by looking up contractors in the Yellow Pages????
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/BWSC-hearings-Joe-Mizzi-chose-Zaren-Vassallo-s-company-off-the-Yellow-Pages
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More valid reasons to vote and support PL.
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Looks like the PN are realising that the power station plan is doable so they will try to slow it down.
They also know that if the PL manage to bring energy prices down, then their statements that there was no choice are empty words and the people of Malta paid through the nose unnecessarily.
If successful lower energy prices will bring down inflation and help business and employment.
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OH, if only we could bring back Dom. Mintoff ...... he would too surley will tell this MEP and his Right Wings friends et European Union where to go....
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It seems that for Jean Pierre Audy and his local friends just consulting the Yellow Pages is enough for someone to be transparent.
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Niskanta kif dan l-MEP qatt ma semma leħnu meta kienet inbidlet il-liġi biex takkomoda il-BWSE halli tkun tista tirbaħ il-kuntratt tal-Power Station ta' Dellimara. Dakinhar kien kollox trasparenti? Daqs kemm kien trasparent l-Ex Ministru Austin Gatt tarax. Daqs kemm hu trasparenti x'inhu li skop ta' min jew min kien dak li qabbdu jagħmel din il-mistoqsija. Jekk tneħħilhom il-ħmieġ li għandhom,jitfaċċa aktar ħmieġ.Ma teħles minnu qatt u qatt.
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This dishonest right wing MEP, pushed by his ultra-dishonest Maltese counterparts should have come out this way when the previous heavy fuel oil power station was being built, together with all the corruption hullabaloo that went along with it. The Maltese government should come out strong against this little useless nondescript MEP and should also legislate against actions endangering our national interests by those whose duty it is to safeguard it.
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This dishonest right wing MEP, pushed by his ultra-dishonest Maltese counterparts should have come out this way when the previous heavy fuel oil power station was being built, together with all the corruption hullabaloo that went along with it. The Maltese government should come out strong against this little useless nondescript MEP and should also legislate against actions endangering our national interests by those whose duty it is to safeguard it.
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Yes one really wonders, peppi, one wonders.
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JP Audrey another rightist who has been stirred up by the local traitorous rightist faction. So far the EU has already shown what it thought of these miscreants lies and misinformation and again it will on this matter. FAPN agitators
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Ghandek tghid meta tnehhilhom il-hmieg dawn in-Nazzjonalisti, flok indafa ssib aktar hmieg. Minn dejjem hekk kienu - jigu jaqghu u jqumu minn Malta u x'inhu tajjeb ghall-Malta, l-aqwa li (minghalihom) jidhru sbieh mall-faxxisti demonji-kristjani shabhom u ma l-erba' qtates li fadlilhom jappogawhom f'Malta.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
It would be interesting to know who is behind this question.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
It would be interesting to know who is behind this question.
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Fejn kien dan l-MEP meta inghata il kuntratt kollu suspetti u hnizrijiet tal BWSC?
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Why should we consult the Commission? It is our business what we do in Malta and not anyone else's business. More spanners in the works from local sources?
Time for the mAletse people to consider another referendum to leave the EU dictatorship.
David Bongailas •
How cute.......Simon Busutill's right wing friends in Brussels trying to help him out in winning a couple of brownie points. Can anyone really take this Sarkozy cheerleader seriously ????
