Labour slams power cut – government deplores ‘political opportunism’
In a statement released yesterday, Labour spokesperson for utilities Marlene Pullicino blamed the government for Monday’s massive power failure, and insisted that the current administration has been breaking its repeated promises on the closure of the Marsa Power Station.
She said that the lack of strategy on energy issues had brought the country to its knees with Enemalta’s finances in dire straits and with practically no investment in this sector by government for decades. Notwithstanding this situation, the corporation saw it fit to raise its tariffs to the highest levels in Europe, Pullicino added.
Labour’s Energy spokesperson also lambasted government’s short sighted energy policy on the sector which clearly showed that all sense of direction was lost.
In its reply, the Ministry for Finance, Economy and Investment deplored the Opposition’s attitude on the power cut adding that it preferred to leave the Marsa Power Station open when if this happened, the country would face huge fines from the EU.
It said that Labour’s political opportunism was equally deplorable due to the fact that it had consistently opposed any investment in the energy sector as had previously happened with the Delimara Power station.
The Ministry said that it was ensuring that the country had an adequate supply of power available and was embarking on various investments such as the Interconnector Cable, the installation of two new 132kv cables, a tunnel linking the Powerstation and Marsa Distribution Centre as well as the Kappara Distribution Centre.
It said that government recognizes that a reliable energy supply is crucial for the country to continue attracting foreign investment but it would not go down the road of the Opposition which did not offer solutions but was only interested in political gain.
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