Bateman reject Austin Gatt's claims and call for Delimara tender re-evaluation

In a statement sent to MaltaToday, Bateman said it was surprised to learn about claims and accusations made by infrastructure minister Austin Gatt during the Public Accounts Committee and fully rejected all claims.

“Bateman acted in accordance with tender procedures and instructions, and never applied illegal pressure whatsoever, political or otherwise during the bidding process,” the statement said.

Subsequent to bid submission, Bateman expressed its concerns on “certain irregularities or biased decisions” during the process, pointing out the eventuality of “wrong selection of technology in a letter that was sent to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Bateman explained that it raised  a number of concerns as a consequence to “various events that occurred during the bidding period for the Delimara contract, which made the company feel uncertain about the integrity of the process,” adding that these same concerns were also presented in detail to the National Audit Office during its investigations into the matter.

The statement added that after the bid was awarded to BWSC, Enemalta failed to notify Bateman of the results in an “evident non-compliance with bid procedure, jeopardizing Bateman’s right to appeal.”

During this time, Bateman expressed its concerns to the Israeli ambassador to Malta, and after it became understood that the ambassador viewed the issue as an internal Maltese controversy, the same ambassador decided to refrain from dealing with the matter.

Bateman suggested that “instead of focusing on irrelevant matters” Maltese decision-makers should re-evaluate their award decision, using objective and realistic criteria, and by taking into consideration a number of matters, namely:

Firstly, that the proposed Bateman plant requires the lowest investment of all bidders.

“The investment required in order to build the combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant offered by Bateman is about €43 million lower than the investment required for the construction of the diesel engine plant offered by BWSC (including cost for conversion of the plant for use of natural gas).

Secondly,  Bateman’s plant utilises a proven and most efficient and modern technology with the

lowest hazardous emissions and in full compliance with all EU directives.

Thirdly, the winning bid utilises non tested prototype emission treatment technology.

The emission levels of this plant did not comply with Maltese law and with the original tender threshold requirement until the Maltese law was changed in the middle of the bid period.

Also, the financial evaluation model used by ENEMALTA was biased as it disregarded utilization of natural gas for the entire evaluation period , in full contradiction with official policy introduced by relevant bodies of the Maltese government

Bateman stressed that should gas have been introduced to the formula (as will happen in 2015), then it  would have won the bid out right, since the actual cost of electricity generation (Eurocent/ KWH) using Bateman’s plant is the lowest of all bidders.

In conclusion, Bateman expressed its trust that the Maltese public understands the importance of such critical issues and will raise the need for reconsideration of the tender’s decision.