Alex Borg pledges to remove LNG tanker from Marsaxlokk Bay if Nationalist Party is in Government

Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has pledged that a future PN government would remove the LNG tanker from Marsaxlokk Bay, relocating it offshore as part of a broader energy and maritime strategy.

The tanker, which entered the bay in 2016, formed a central part of Malta’s shift from heavy fuel oil to gas-powered energy under a government agreement with Electrogas Malta. At the time, it was presented as a major step towards cleaner and more efficient energy production, with infrastructure developed at Delimara to support the new system.

However, the project has long faced criticism. Concerns were raised over safety risks linked to a permanently moored LNG tanker close to residential areas, as well as its environmental and visual impact. The Nationalist Party had also questioned the transparency of the Electrogas deal, making the tanker a recurring political issue.

Borg’s proposal centres on the creation of a Mediterranean Maritime Fuel Hub at Hurd’s Bank, an offshore development aimed at establishing a new economic niche. According to the PN, this would allow the removal of the tanker from the bay while maintaining Malta’s energy needs through a more future-oriented system.

The party has also pointed to unfulfilled commitments, noting that residents were originally told the tanker would be temporary. More than a decade later, it remains in place, a point the PN is using to reinforce its call for change.

#MaltaDaily