Comments on: The Prime Minister must think the Chamber of Commerce are “stupid fools” too

By: callixtus

callixtus — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 19:08:00 +0000

In reply to Newman.

Can we please stop missing the wood for the trees?

The press is getting all tangled up on technicalities, missed time frames, safety concerns, planning irregularities, pollution and electricity rates. These are secondary issues.

Malta doesn’t need a new power station. The country has enough electricity for its needs, and had Muscat’s government not kept electricity rates artificially high, we would be paying much less for it, because of the drop in the price of oil.

The rationale behind the new power station does not include the generation of electricity. That”s a by-product which we’ll somehow have to make use of. Its construction is only a pretext for more corruption.

By: Kelinu

Kelinu — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 17:57:00 +0000

In reply to Gorg. The 18-year agreement has not yet been approved by the European Commission.

By: Major Tom

Major Tom — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 13:50:00 +0000

In reply to Mike. "It is commercially sensitive information". I cannot stand this sort of excuse.

By: Maltri

Maltri — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:11:00 +0000

In reply to Les Bonbons. A proper nasty surprise for Muscat would only be if the Nationalist Party wins by a landslide, followed by immediate criminal prosecution of the Labour ministers and their cronies. At this moment I have to agree with the prime minister and Xkamun. The electorate is either stupid or has the collective thinking of a herd of sheep.

By: Xkamun

Xkamun — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 10:31:00 +0000

In reply to Les Bonbons. Don't bet on that, Les Bonbons. Judging by the vox pops, everyone's on cloud nine after the budget.

By: Newman

Newman — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 10:21:00 +0000

The electricity rates must reflect the rates agreed by the government for the purchase of power from Electrogas. Even if the cost of purchasing electricity via the interconnector is less now, the government cannot afford to lower electricity rates only to raise them when the LNG plant becomes operational. If there is any margin, the government will lower the rates soon after the LNG plant becomes operational as a publicity stunt.

By: Gorg

Gorg — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 10:05:00 +0000

Current energy rates are no doubt pegged to the pre-election rates costed by Konrad Mizzi at the minimum 9.2 cents per unit contracted with Electrogas, when interconnector unit rates hover around 5 cents.

Reducing tariffs now would mean that unit rates will have to shoot up again once (if?) the new Electrogas station comes on stream and thereby confirming the whole Electrogas project for the massive, no-longer hidden, commission-generating scam it really is.

By: Les Bonbons

Les Bonbons — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:53:00 +0000

In reply to Maltri. I think Muscat and his supporters are in for a nasty surprise in 18 months or so.

By: Julian Borg

Julian Borg — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:39:00 +0000

Kulhadd bahnan hlief il-kabinett korrott ta’ Muscat ghax dawk saru sinjuruni fi tlett snin biss.

By: Maltri

Maltri — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:36:00 +0000

The prime minister knows that most of the voters are the real “stupid fools.” And we know he’s right on this one.