The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance keep saying that using diesel oil to operate the BWSC plant would increase costs by 30%. In effect they are telling citizens, including the many thousands pensioners, that the choice is between living with harmful emissions or paying heftier electricity bills. The implication is that the outrageous rates introduced in 2009 will go up by a further 30%.
Not being a politician, nor a lawyer or an accountant, I find the implied conclusion impossible to accept. The BWSC plant will merely boost Delimara power station. This new asset will thus generate an additional amount of electricity; say 25% of Malta’s needs. If it were to operate at full capacity round the clock (an impossible scenario) the increased costs of operating the plant on diesel oil would be spread over the total amount of electricity generated. At the worst, therefore, bills would increase by 7.5% and not the touted 30%.
Instead of admitting that government might have made a more felicitous choice, less harmful to people’s health and to the environment, our political masters persist in proposing options which are no options at all. They do so while regularly sermonising about their belief in solidarity and in the furtherance of the national interest. They would be far more believable if, once in a while, they come down to earth from the world of spin they seem to inhabit. Do they need reminding that the readiness of leaders to admit mistakes is a sign of strength or not of weakness?
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
