PM hopes for stay of EU action on Marsa plant

The European Commission has warned that it may start proceedings against Malta for its failure to close the polluting Marsa power station, the Prime Minister confirmed yesterday.

“But it is our hope that these proceedings do not start so that we can have time to finish the interconnector by the beginning of 2014,” said Dr Gonzi.

He pointed out that the Marsa power station could not be closed until an adequate replacement was ready for use; the Government was committed to laying an interconnector with Sicily to be able to replace Marsa.

“We could have promised to finish it in two years,” Dr Gonzi said, in a jibe aimed at Labour, which has set ambitious targets for its energy plan. “But the truth is these things take time,” he added.

Dr Gonzi said that a number of procedures and processes had to be followed before the interconnector could start being laid, including permits, negotiations with the Italian Government and discussions with Sicily.

“We told the European Commission that things have taken longer than we would have liked but that these were beyond our control,” Dr Gonzi said.

He added that the interconnector was crucial not only to closing the Marsa power station but also to any other future projects, including the one proposed by Labour.