Energy shadow minister asks for tabling of Libya, China MOU

The Opposition's spokesperson for energy and conservation of water George Pullicino has asked the government to table both memorandum of understandings signed with China and Libya.

Among the questions raised, George Pullicino asked the Prime Minister to state whether the government had held discussions with other countries over the privatisation of Enemalta.

Pullicino noted that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi failed to publish the names of the persons involved in the MOU discussions in reply to a parliamentary question he raised.

"But is the Prime Minister comfortable that the government will now hold a minority stake in the overall energy generation of the country?" he said, referring to the partial privatisation of Enemalta and the 40% energy generation from a private company.

Like the leader of the opposition, Pullicino called on government to immediately publish the Chinese MOU and said the government should declare whether other Enemalta shares will be privatised.

"It should be noted that contrary to what Labour said in its electoral programme, the government has moved to the privatisation of the state entity," Pullicino said.

He also asked how the €200 million from China will be invested.

According to the last Enemalta financial statement, the entity's assets amounted to over €1 billion. "Will a due diligence on Enemalta's assets be carried out to see how these assets will be affected," he said.

Pullicino also questioned the choice of China Power Investments, "whose main energy generation is through coal".

Referring to a MaltaToday report, Pullicino asked why the Environment Impact Assessment for the new gas-fired power station does not assess any technological alternatives.

Turning onto the agreement reached with Libya, expected to provide Malta with favourable prices on fuel purchases, Pullicino asked when the government will be tabling in parliament the memorandum of understanding.