Labour slams 'hypocrite' PN on heavy fuel oil

The Labour Party has said that the PN's criticism on the use of Heavy Fuel Oil at the power plant in Delimara smacked of "hypocrisy."

"The Labour Party is convinced that the people are recognising the PN's hypocricy and the outdated policies," Labour said in reaction to the Opposition's statement issued yesterday.

Yesterday, the Nationalist Party accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of breaking "a solemn promise" he made in December 2012 when he claimed that a Labour government would immediately switch to diesel if he were elected to power.

The PL's electoral programme did not feature any commitment to shift to diesel in the period before the new gas infrastructure is in place, but in the past Joseph Muscat had pledged to shift to diesel.

"The PN statement is a clear sign that the people should not take the Opposition seriously," Labour said.

It said that the PN's statement was hypocritical since the Gonzi administration had spent €200 million on a power station that operates on heavy fuel oil.

The PN should have fulfilled its promise to go through with its plans to have a gas-operated plant when in government, Labour said.

The Labour Party also insisted that the government is on track in its plans to complete a new power plant and reduce energy tariffs.

The interest shown in the gas fuelled power plant project is an indication of the government's commitment to carry out its election mandate, Labour added.