Voters taken for a ride – Alternattiva Demokratika

Following Finance Minister Tonio Fenech’s statement that government is to hold talks with the European Union to extend the use of the Marsa Power Station, Alternattiva Demokratika said this goes to show the low level of commitment by the Maltese government.  

“The Maltese government has known about the requirement to phase out the Marsa plant from before (EU) accession in 2004, but failed to plan for this in an adequate manner,” AD spokesperson on energy Ralph Cassar said.

Claiming they have been taken for a ride, Cassar said voters, in 1990, were told the Marsa power station would have been decommissioned once the Delimara power station would start operating.

“Then, in 2003, they were told the Marsa power station would either comply with the acquis or else close down,” he said. “Then they changed their version once more by stating the plant would be allowed to pollute but would only operate for 20,000 hours from 1 January of 2008 onwards.

“Now that the 20,000 hours have been used up, we are being told the plant can only be decommissioned by 2013.”

Cassar said Malta now risks not being taken seriously by the Commission: “The Gonzi government is living in denial if it expects the Commission to let Malta operate a plant in total contravention of EU law.”

He added that it is “incredible” that 6 years after acceding to the EU, government, which poses as European but in fact, is everything else but European has not understood this.

“According to the Large Combustion Plants Directive, Marsa will be allowed to operate beyond the 20,000 hours only if it achieves the emission standards laid down in the Directive,” he stated.

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said government is imposing  the residents of Marsa, Fgura, Paola, Tarxien, Santa Lucija and neighbouring localities to 2 more years of unacceptable emissions from the power station with dire consequences for their health.

“Austin Gatt and Tonio Fench have failed, their carelessness and mismanagement of the energy sector is glaringly obvious,” Briguglio said. “Their incompetence will force our country to keep on using a polluting power plant against all rules which are designed to protect our health.”