The government that listens but couldn’t care less
The Nationalist Party’s news website, Maltarightnow, reports that at a press conference called ‘Close to you: the government which listens’, government communications chief Kurt Farrugia declared that the government which listens is going to press on with its plans for storing 140,000 cubic metres of gas in a tanker moored permanently in Marsaxlokk harbor, even though 91% of those who live there object.
It soon became clear that the man responsible for communication between the public and the government which listens had no idea where Maltarightnow’s reporter got that 91% figure of objecting members of the public in Birzebbuga and Marsaxlokk. “It’s in the environmental impact assessment,” the reporter told him.
Well, I don’t think anyone’s surprised. Kurt Farrugia is another one who’s been promoted way beyond his competence, knowledge, skills and ability.
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http://www.maltarightnow.com/Default.asp?module=news&at=Il-Kap+tal-Komunikazzjoni+ma+jafx+li+91%25+ma+jridux+it-tank+tal-%26%23295%3Ba%26%23380%3Bna+tal-gass&t=a&aid=99854129&cid=19
Ma naqbilx mieghek.
Il-Gvern jipprova jisma’, imma billi bejn widnejh jirbombja, kif jidhol minn wahda jibqa’ hiereg mill-ohra.
Weghdna gvern li jisma’, u tana gvern li jissemma’ minn wara l-bibien tal-parlament.
U kemm hu kwiet Manuel. M’hawnx xi gurnalist ta’ veru u jmur jistennieh wara l-bieb tal-Ministeru u tal-Parlament halli jehodlu l-kummenti fuq ir-rizenja u fuq hafna affarijiet ohra?
Min jaf Yana Mintoff hix se titlob kumpens iehor fuq l-izvalutar tal-propjeta’ li wirtet.
When the size of compensation became known, I had suggested that for that price the government ought to have purchased the damn place and solved future problems once and for all but the Minister of the time felt it would not be nice to treat Mintoff in that way.
Kemm ahna cwiec
Actually it’s 140,000 cubic metres of LNG which when regassified will give 84,000,000 cubic metres of Natural gas.
They could have plugged in Manwel Mallia. it would have been much cheaper.
Manwel Mallia? Cheap? X’il-funtana qieghed tghid?
Could be he’s still referring to Konrad’s vox pops.
This was just a year ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzNP0NkQBlU
Look at the amount of views of this video(330) . The people did not want to listen about safety issues.
The PN can sit back and say: ” We told you so.”
What would the insurance costs for the LNG terminal be ?
This press conference on the ELECTORAL proposal of an LNG-run power station at Marsaxlokk by Mr Miles Seaman is prophetic.
Or Mr Seaman knows his business.
Interestingly, Tonio Fenech showed that he was in favour of a power station running on piped natural gas but was really concerned about the safety issues of an LNG terminal.
Mr Seaman warned about the “cutting of corners” at the expense of safety, which is what we are actually seeing right now.
The PN should show this video or parts of it in the daily “No Comment” slot on NET TV.
They knew this was coming to them and still they voted Labour. They can protest all they like, but it was self-inflicted.
That is a bit of a sweeping statement. Not all of us who live in the area voted Labour, you know.
‘Kurt Farrugia is another one who’s been promoted way beyond his competence, knowledge, skills and ability.’
Why? Has anyone from the Prime Minister down?
The ‘Peter principle’ at work – right through the ranks.
This guy ia beyond a joke. He must also understand that a week in politics is a long time, let alone a year.
Saying that what the people wanted was that the heavy fuel oil be removed is now passe…… they now do not want this facility either……
Whatever happened to Astrid Vella’s megaphone?
They are going to put a massive tanker opposite Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia, loaded with gas. Apart from looking hideous, there are major risks.
Mrs Vella kicks up a fuss over some triviality which may impact a couple of Sliema or St Julian’s households and then is silent over something which will undermine the quality of life of thousands of families and property owners.
Did the environmental impact assessment consultants produce photomontages to show how the storage tanker will look from the shore?
Have they been published?
Another photomontage which could help would be one showing Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia flattened after the big bang with thousands of dead bodies – and no power stations left standing. Apocalypse calling Konrad!
The picture here shows what one of those tankers looked like in Valletta’s Grand Harbour last July.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130701/local/offshore-lng-regassification-terminal-towed-into-grand-harbour.476191
We’ll have two of those when refuelling takes place. A week passed since Konrad refused to disclose details regarding the ship.
The photomontage issued can be termed apologetic at best, in reality misleading; there’s no way the jetty will be a single run, A safe plant needs another one running in parallel out to the ship for routine operations, vehicular access etc.
I also suspect that the tanker will be berthed next to the quay, and not in the middle of the bay with pipes to the shore. Because we know that liquid gas cannot travel without being temperature controlled.
The danger is during re-filling when tanks are nearly empty.
Do you recall the Um-El-Faroud tragedy?That explosion was a result of residual gases in a large empty enclosed space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgfOWQOM2m8
I can already see the headlines of the Maltese newspapers: “Il-Madonna ta’ Pompej salvatli hajti” , “Fisherman miraculously survives LNG leak flash “, ” Marsaxlokk residents evacuated”, “LNG supply ship drifts in harbour during exceptional storm”, and lastly “Mintoff sisters get €500,000 compensation for L-Gharix” .
http://election.josephmuscat.com/confirmed-gonzipn-has-no-credible-plan-on-energy/
“On the other hand, the Labour Party has included every detail necessary on how and when the energy investments will cost and will happen, as well as how utility bills will decrease. Muscat went on to add that when presenting the electorate with such important costings, crucial details cannot be left out.”
So instead of 30,000cubic metres on land , we will have 140,000 cubic metres afloat on a rusting ship.
Dr Anne Fenech was right when she said that small LNG ships the size Labour proposed, were not available.
But it seems that Joseph considered this to be a minor detail.
Here is what he “personalment” promised just over a year ago:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130108/news/pl-tariffs.452366#.UvZ8UM3QQXw
and
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130109/news/Labour-announces-its-plan-to-cut-utility-bills.452480
“• Liquefied natural gas will be delivered and stored on site at Delimara.
• The cost of every electricity unit will be 9c6 under the new set up.”
Kurt Farrugia would have made a great toy for Joseph Goebbels.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22444421
Italy deaths as Genoa ship hits control tower. “ The Jolly Nero was manoeuvring out of the port with the help of tugboats in calm conditions, on its way to Naples, reports said. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said there could have been a problem with the ship’s engines or with the tugboat cables.”
They thought it would never happen but it did.
There is an area within Marsaxlokk harbour which allows for manoeuvre of ships prior to berthing at Freeport. Will this area be reduced because of the location of a gas storage ship within harbour?
What measures will be taken to avoid damage to the storage ship should there be an accident similar to Genoa’s port?
I’m sorry but this only proves my point that the change people wanted was unnecessary and irresponsible….the leaders today are not honest and hardworking but simply egocentric and totally dishonest……well done to those who , for their own personal reasons, wanted that change…..