The plant has already been designed and engineered

About �6m has been spent on consultation fees and preparatory work on the proposed multi-million pound plant at Long Hougue.

Rubbish disposal charges on the island are increasing to recover the money.

But Education Minister Martin Ozanne said he believed the cost so far had not been excessive.

'Panicked plant'

Deputy Scott Ogier placed a requette earlier this year calling for the States to reconsider the decision to build the plant.

He said he believed there were cheaper and quicker alternatives of waste disposal and that the island was being panicked into building the plant.

Mr Ozanne said: "Spending �6m on what could be an �80m development is actually about right.

"This whole plant has been completely designed and engineered and then went out to tender.

"It was Deputy Ogier's amendment that has meant there will be a second look at the plans. If that hadn't been successful, construction would be starting now."

If the plant finally goes ahead after an investigation put into motion by Deputy Ogier's requette, it will replace the landfill site at Mont Cuet.