Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/476647
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 MARCH 2015 News MIRIAM DALLI JOSEPH Muscat yesterday de- fended direct ministerial inter- vention to hedge fuel with Azeri company SOCAR, insisting that consumers would have ended up paying higher fuel prices. The Prime Minister was ad- dressing a political activit y in Marsa, which focused on the switching off of the 62-year-old power station, a major pollutant in the south. "We used to criticise others for not doing anything… and they criticise us for actually doing something," Muscat said. Referring to the report of the Au- ditor General, analysing Enemal- ta's fuel hedging, Muscat insisted that lack of action would have resulted in higher fuel prices. En- emalta had failed to reach favour- able arrangements, and when the government realised that prices would go up by 2c, Energy Minis- ter Konrad Mizzi intervened. "We have nothing to hide and the Auditor General, as is his dut y, carried out an investigation. Do- ing nothing was the easiest thing we could have done. Instead, we intervened to defend the interests of families and businesses." Admitting that the government had turned to Azerbaijan and en- couraged Enemalta to negotiate with them, Muscat insisted that he would continue to defend con- sumers' interests. Muscat insisted that his govern- ment had worked for the south more than any other government ever did in all those years. "The closing down of the power station was the biggest environ- mental achievement the south could have ever had. We are one step closer to the implementation of our energy plan," Muscat told the part y faithful. "The environment doesn't be- long only to those who voice their opinion in the newspapers, it be- longs to everyone, including to those who for decades suffered more than enough." Following the commissioning of the interconnector and a gas- fired power station in Delimara, Muscat said the government was committing itself to regenerate the south. "Join me in my dreams for the future of Marsa," he told the resi- dents, as a camera zoomed in on the audience sitting behind the PM, that included former Nation- alist mayor and John Dalli aide, Frank Zammit. Labour MP and chair of the South Consultative Council Sil- vio Parnis praised Muscat, saying that the PM held the people living in the south of Malta "at heart". "The residents are now enjoying cleaner air thanks to the govern- ment's commitment to switch off the power station," he said. The official switching off cer- emony of the power station took place on Monday, coinciding with the deadline the PL in opposition had set for the switch to gas. The finalisation of the new power plant is now expected by June 2016. Parnis said the consultative council was pushing for the de- velopment of a commercial hub in the south, whilst reiterating a commitment to turn Marsaskala into a tourist destination. He said that the council had reached a deal with a private com- pany to plant 150 "presentable trees", valued at €10,000. Parnis said the trees would be planted at Eden Garden, next to the chapel at Bir Miftuh. "Miracles have been done in these two years. Let's continue working for more," he said. Environment Minister Leo Brincat said that, while the Op- position was taking lightly the switching off of the Marsa power station – it is currently reminding the government that it should be inaugurating the new one – the European Commission had re- peatedly warned Malta about the operation of the old power sta- tion. Muscat defends Azeri deal Joseph Muscat – 'Nothing to hide'