Economy Minister Tonio Fenech told Parliament yesterday the Delimara power station extension could work with heavy fuel oil as well as gas oil.
Answering a question by Franco Debono (PN), Mr Fenech said that with the use of gasoil, with a sulphur content of 0.1 per cent, de-sulphurisation would not be necessary and solid waste would be reduced by some 95 per cent.
The average cost for the operation of the plant would be 30 per cent more - based on the average 2009 fuel cost - even if one considered cost-savings from de-sulphurisation and waste removal.
Parliament will meet this morning to start discussing a motion on the extension of the Delimara power station submitted by the opposition last September.