Private sector is key part of PL utility rates pledge

A Labour Party pledge to reduce utility bills will be based on the involvement of the private sector in electricity generation, The Sunday Times has learnt. The energy plan will include the elimination of heavy fuel oil and the conversion of the Delimara power station to run on gas. Details will be unveiled this week. The plan would lay out in detail the “significant” cost savings families and businesses will make, sources said. The plan will for the first time cater forthe generation of electricity by a private operator apart from Enemalta, the State energy company. This means that any capital expenditure required to shift to gas will not be undertaken by Enemalta, which is laden with debt. Sources said the party had been working on this plan for months and took a leaf out of what happened in the rest of Europe where private companies were involved in electricity generation. However, they insisted that the State company will not be privatised and the PL is expected to guarantee the jobs of Enemalta employees. Set up in 1977, Enemalta employs almost 1,500 staff. Reducing utility bills is crucial to the PL’s pledge to stimulate economic growth by cutting costs for industry and has...