PN takes exception at Muscat’s ‘warning’ to MEPA

The Nationalist Party has accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of attempting to condition the board members of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, by his stated intention of going ahead with the construction of a 215MW gas plant and a jetty for an LNG vessel, if opponents appeal against the project.

Muscat’s promise to reduce utility bills for residential and commercial users over 2014 and 2015 is conditional on the construction of a new gas plant serviced by an LNG tanker moored inside Marsaxlokk harbour.

He wrote to MEPA chairman Vince Cassar saying that even if a positive decision is appealed, the government would still steam ahead with the project.

“We believe this letter was intended at conditioning the MEPA board members who are being asked by the Labour government to take a decision on the power station,” the PN said in a statement.

“Muscat has been stubborn since the very start and has done everything to ignore or discredit the preoccupation of residents, fishermen and whoever earns his living in Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia, environmental NGOs and the Opposition. Muscat has even appointed a board member to MEPA, who has a direct interest in this project: there is no doubt that he knew of this since before the election.”

The PN said Muscat’s letter had betrayed his belief that the country’s institutions were there to serve his partisan interests.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said the government wanted the application to be processed and decided by the Authority, according to the legal provisions.

“At no point did the government intervene in the application process,” the OPM said in a reaction the Opposition's claim.

It said that, according to the legal provisions, works couldn’t be halted once the board determines the application. In cases where a party appeals MEPA’s decision and calls for the suspension of works, legal provisions allow the government to go ahead with the works.

The project is considered to be of strategic importance, therefore falling under the provisions stipulated under Article 41(3) of Chapter 504 of the Laws of Malta.

“One should also remember it was the Nationalist government that introduced and made ample use of this provision. The PN simply wants to hinder the project,” Castille said.