A former chief executive of the Manx Electricity Authority has explained how the Isle of Man faced a choice of building a new power station or importing electricity from the United Kingdom.

Giving evidence to a Select Committee of Tynwald, Mike Proffitt said hooking up to the UK and relying on it for energy was deemed politically unacceptable when it was mooted ten years ago.

He also claimed there had never been a cast-iron budget for the infrastructure project, which ran tens of millions of pounds over its estimated cost.

Jason Roberts reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Mr Proffitt told the committee that by 2002 the Island was using as much power as forecasts suggested it would in 2014.

He said his job was to oversee the building of the gas interconnector which would supply fuel to Pulrose power station and natural gas to Manx Gas, as well as build the new plant.

He left the authority in 2004 as news about unauthorised loans broke, but said he resigned because he considered his task complete.

And, he said, he had become disillusioned over what he claimed was corruption within government.

The hearings continue on Thursday.