PM cautious on oil prospects, says ‘Enemalta salvation’ imminent

The enforcement action carried out by the government on the Polidano Brothers factory complex in Hal Farrugia was an "example" of a government taking the bull by the horns and doing what others feared to do in the past 25 years, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told an audience at a public consultation meeting.

Stopping short of mentioning the company by name, Muscat said the government was taking action on enforcement measures. 

"We did what others were afraid to do. A decision was taken knowing that the next day I would have some 700 workers knocking on my door telling us they had been fired," he said.

The enforcement action was however stopped by a court after a prohibitory injunction was upheld, while MEPA engaged in talks with Polidano Bros to discuss pending fees and regularising their position.

Muscat however failed to address concerns raised by FAA coordinator Astrid Vella, who questioned why the government had not yet appointed a director responsible of the environment.

She pointed out that the separation at MEPA had not yet taken place, despite a year having already passed since Labour taking office.

Addressing the ‘government that listens’ roadshow at the former Marsa shipbuilding site, Joseph Muscat said the government was analysing plans as to how to tackle some 40,000 vacant dwellings around the island.

"You cannot force a person to live in a place they don't want to," he said, saying social housing could be used to take up the empty housing.

Another intervention from the public raised questions on how a cement silo could be constructed next to grain silos, posing a possible health risks, and why an environmental permit was issued without a planning application being made in the first place.

Muscat claimed a letter issued by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority a few days before the general election informed the cement silos’ owners that "no application was needed" since the development was being carried out in the port. "I'm not happy with how this matter developed," he said.

Speaking on a variety of topics, Muscat was very cautious on prospects of oil exploration in Maltese waters. Oil drillers Genel are expected to start at the end of the month, and first results should be in by mid-July. "The success rate of finding oil is one out of five projects," he said, careful not to raise expectations.

Turning to Enemalta, Muscat said the state corporation's "salvation plan" was imminent, hinting that the agreement with Chinese -state owned company China Power Investment Corporation and subsidiary Shanghai Power Electric has now been finalised and signed soon.

Muscat said the government's gas-based energy plan would reduce CO2 emissions by 2 million tonnes a year and that an expression of interest for the rehabilitation of the Marsa power station site will be issued.

Expecting Marie Louise to be 'better' than George Abela

With the "tools" to be granted to Marie Louise Coleiro Preca when she is appointed President next month, Joseph Muscat said he expected the outgiong social policy minister to be as good a president as George Abela, "and even more".

The PN this evening said it would be voting in favour of Coleiro Preca's nomination as the ninth president - and second female president - of Malta. The vote in parliament is expected to take place on 4 April.