Marlene Farrugia calls for immediate conversion of power station

Going beyond the praise fellow government MPs made to Labour's energy plan, backbencher Marlene Farrugia urged government to convert the "cancerous factory" which was the BWSC power station.

Farrugia's speech in fact was marked by a number of proposals which the government should immediately embark on to effectively address the country's energy demands and the conservation of water.

Somewhat echoing calls made by the Opposition MPs this morning in parliament, Farrugia called on government to immediately cease the use of heavy fuel oil to fire the Delimara power station.

"The power station is indeed a cancer factory and if there are measures making use of cleaner fuel, then these should be adopted immediately," Farrugia said.

The BWSC power plant makes it possible for the plant to be converted from HFO to diesel. But according to the Energy Minister this would not be feasible in terms of time and costs given the government was working on the implemenation of the gas power plant.

While praising the government's decision to go for gas, she questioned why the BWSC plant was not converted to cleaner energy.

She called for "honesty", insisting the issue should not remain a partisan political issue.

Referring to a statement made by Mario de Marco earlier in the sitting, Farrugia said MPs were elected to parliament to work in the best interest for the country.

"Are we serving this role? Because what is certain is that we cannot do like a Nationalist administration and operate with politics of secrecy and lack of transparency. We must reach consensus, where policies are based on a Malta for all where the best minds work together to give the country what it deserves," she said.