PN says fuel procurement shortcomings substantially addressed

The Nationalist Party has defended its position over the Auditor General's report on the effectiveness of Enemalta Corporation's fuel procurement, insisting the previous administration had embarked on a series of revisions to improve the corporation's policies.

In a statement, the PN said the National Audit Office had pointed out that the shortcomings had been substantially addressed in the beginning of 2011 - a year after then finance minister Tonio Fenech took over Enemalta from Austin Gatt.

The PN insisted the Nationalist government had fully collaborated in the oil scandal investigation, so much so the previous Cabinet had approved a presidential pardon to oil trader George Farrugia.

"As the report itself states, the government implemented revisions of fuel procurement policies and procedures to increase transparency," the PN said.

It added the Auditor General itself had noted the Nationalist government had terminated the extension of the contract awarded to Island Bunker Oils Ltd by MOBC following a revision of the policies.