Busuttil calls on MEPA to shed politics and vote against LNG terminal

PN leader accuses government of ‘betraying’ people of the south; insists government has no mandate to build terminal.

PN Leader Simon Busuttil
PN Leader Simon Busuttil

On the eve of MEPA’s decision on the fate of the proposed LNG terminal at Marsaxlokk, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has accused the government of “betraying” the people of the south.

Addressing a political event in Marsaxlokk, Busuttil blasted Labour MPs and Labour-controlled councils for “using” the residents to score political points, after the latter - most notably the Marsaxlokk local council - voted in favour of the LNG storage vessel.

Citing better air quality, the council insisted that the new terminal would drastically reduce toxic gas emissions from the neighbouring power station – a stand also voiced by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who has reassured residents that the terminal poses no safety hazard.

While accusing the Labour Party of “using” the residents to score political points, Busuttil insisted that the majority of residents are against the project.

“Where are the four Labour MPs that were elected from this district? Where is the Committee for the South? The people of the south have been taken for a ride, in March they were used for their votes, but now, their concerns are not being addressed,” Busuttil said.

“Prior to the election, the Labour Party had dubbed the power station as a ‘cancer factory’ and had used this to secure votes. But now, it is not only using the heavy fuel oil but most pertinently, it is proposing to moor this tanker,” he argued.

While praising Labour MP Marlene Farrugia – the government backbencher who has disputed the government’s plan to anchor the terminal outside of Marsaxlokk Bay – Busuttil lambasted other Labour MPs for not speaking against the terminal. 

Echoing PN executive committee president Ann Fenech, Busuttil called on MEPA to postpone its decision until a maritime impact assessment test is concluded.

Busuttil said MEPA – who tomorrow are expected to decide on the environmental permit of for the LNG terminal – should wait until all tests are concluded and until all scenarios are taken into account.

“MEPA should be independent. When weighing the decision on the LNG terminal, the board members should only take into account the wellbeing of the people and not the interests of the government that appointed them,” he insisted.

In addition, Busuttil insisted that all experts’ reports have acknowledged that there is the possibility of an accident.

“Experts have said that the LNG terminal poses no risks, provided there was no ignition source. But what would happen if there was a simple spark? The result would be devastating,” Busuttil rallied.

MEPA should be independent and its members should only take into account the wellbeing people and not the government’s interests. Simon Busuttil on MEPA’s decision on the LNG terminal

While insisting that the PN is the “voice” of the people of the south, Busuttil acknowledged that the party has a mountain to climb in order to regain the trust of the south. However, Busuttil underlined, the PN’s presence is proving that it is part of the south.  

The Opposition leader also claimed that the government does not have electoral mandate to build the LNG terminal.

“The government only has mandate and the duty to reduce electricity tariffs. Conversely, it does not have the mandate to build the terminal.”

“The measures which were not promised and are ultimately wrong and detrimental to the residents should not be accepted by the opposition or the country. Consequently, the PN will continue to lobby against the proposal and will continue to be the voice of the south,” he argued.

Busuttil also reiterated his call for the government to moor the terminal outside of the bay. Drawing comparisons with Livorno, Busuttil said the government should not take any risks and that it should not “prioritise” over the safety of residents.

“The LNG terminal should be built outside Marsaxlokk Bay as this would ensure that the livelihood and the safety of residents is not affected,” he said.

The PN leader also said the government lacking transparency – accusing it of refusing to discuss the project in parliamentary committees and of not disclosing all the reports to quicken the process.

Moreover, he claimed that the government is afraid of the opposition  asking the right questions.