Fresh doubts cast on interconnector deal

Two neighbours, two countries, two separate electoral campaigns.

Malta's bid for a 200MW interconnector cable with Sicily is faced with the daunting prospect of being blocked by Italian political exigencies, ahead of a general election next month.

The interconnector - on which government is hinging its energy policy in contrast to Labour's gas proposals - is faced by growing protests from political parties in Sicily who are also competing for votes in their region.

The Italian government has now set January 23 as the date for the last public hearing in Rome, during which a final decision will be taken over the multi-million project which is expected to be co-financed by the European Union.

After Sicilian regional councillor and former mayor of Ragusa Nello Dipasquale voiced his objections to the project, he was joined by another political faction in Sicily, which is also vying for votes, Pierferdinando Casini's UDC.

His regional coordinator Sonia Migliore has also come out to oppose the interconnector.

Migliore is urging for an "immediate stop" to the project, pointing out environmental considerations in the Marina di Ragusa area.

In comments this evening, Migliore contends that the Sicilian Region's approval was abusive, as it was granted by the outgoing 'giunta' run by the former Sicilian governor Raffaele Lombardo, who resigned his post over a row concerning the huge deficit incurred by the region.

Migliore said that Lombardo ran roughshod over the Ragusa council's objections, ignoring all environmental concerns.

She has also called for an inquiry to look into Lombardo's controversial decision, and for adequate financial compensation both from the region and from Enemalta if the project goes ahead.

In another development, the Partito Democratico's (PD) coordinator for Ragusa Peppe Calabrese has called for an urgent meeting of the Ragusa Council, which is currently being run by an interim commission, following the resignation in June of the whole council.

Calabrese said that in the wake of the meeting in Rome on January 23, the council should meet and mobilise citizens to object to the central government giving the go-ahead to Malta for the project.

He also contested the approval for the project given in June by the former president of the Sicilian region, Raffaele Lombardo.

"What legal title would Lombardo's approval have if he signed it after he had resigned?" Calabrese asked, raising the question as to why did the former Sicilian region president only give the Ragusa council just 24 hours to react to Enemalta's proposal.

Finance minister Tonio Fenech yesterday played down concerns on objections raised by the Ragusa council, and Movimento Territorio Ragusa, an NGO led by regional MP and former Ragusa mayor Nello Dipasquale.

According to Fenech who reacted to 'The Times' following MaltaToday's revelation on the objections raised to Enemalta's project, government has been given assurances that the project has been approved.

The project was discussed in Rome last December between foreign minister Francis Zammit Dimech and his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi.

Outgoing Italian ambassador Efisio Luigi Marras said that the project is considered as "important and strategic" for the Italian government.

Malta has already received a €100 million loan in 2010 from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the project, while Enemalta corporation has already signed a €182 million contract with French company Nexans who will lay the cable between Malta and Sicily.

According to Fenech, 50% of the project's cost would be financed by the EIB, another €20 million would come from EU funds, while the rest of the financing would be sourced from domestic banks.