Jun 02 – “Today’s Power Generation Plant Should Have Been Replaced Twenty Years Ago” – Says Cortes.
The Government said it is an absolute disgrace that the GSD should try to abdicate responsibility for power problems in the way that it has tried to do in its latest press release.
A spokesman for No6 said: “For one, they should never have waited to start on a new power station after fifteen years of gross negligence, in the knowledge that equipment was failing, in order to renew the electricity infrastructure, which is decades old. They left it too late, and came up with an option that was too expensive, polluting, and would have blighted the shape of the Rock of Gibraltar forever. It was a non-starter.
“Moreover, during the time that they would have supposedly been building the power plant, Gibraltar would have been subject to many more power cuts, as it was this present Government that brought in the temporary generators that have provided enough generating capacity for the first time in many years.
“It mustn’t be forgotten that the GSD’s power cuts were power cuts due to poor planning and insufficient generating power. Our most recent power cuts have been due to damage or faults that cannot be predicted.
“Moreover, it has been nearly seven months since we had the power cut on 14 November 2014. This has been the longest period without generating power cuts for a least 20 years and the average for this year is by far the lowest. The situation is clearly much more positive and much more under control than ever before.
“The GSD is now also trying to divert attention from their past failings by making spurious and irresponsible allegations about issues to do with the new power plant. All aspects are being studied and dealt with through the necessary assessments and the new power station will be up and running within the next two years.”
Dr John Cortes, Minister for Utilities, added: “I was with the men of the GEA at the generating station this morning and saw first hand how hard they worked to restore power. They were having to do so using equipment that should have been replaced over twenty years ago and which we, in less than three and a half years, have already taken steps to replace.
“The excellent workforce at the GEA do not deserve the criticism being heaped on them by the GSD, who failed to take the necessary steps to correct these problems when they were in office. Instead the GEA deserves praise for the proactive way in which they deal with situations such as this.
“For the GSD to say now that their monstrous plans for a horrific, diesel burning power station which was going to be an indelible blight on the views from Jews’ Gate area, would have solved the problem by now is very easy and comfortable, but it is not true.
“The works would not have been anywhere near finished now given the huge logistical task being undertaken. The question is why did they do nothing for so long?
“They should explain that to the hard working team at GEA, and its customers, who are suffering the consequences of their neglect.
“We now have plans for the most advanced possible solution and we will deliver resilience and efficiency. I have absolutely no doubt of that.
“Moreover, the cost of cancelling the GSD power station contract will be recouped many times over, possibly even within the first year of operation just in the reduced cost of LNG over diesel and the absence of carbon emission fines at the level the monstrous GSD power station would have exposed us, let alone the huge saving in the capital expense of the power station now being developed which will provide more megawatts, less emissions and lower fuel costs for two thirds of the cost of the GSD's."
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