The Nationalist Party (PN) has criticized the Labour Government for allegedly withholding information regarding a €37 million contract for leasing generators intended to address the ongoing energy crisis. The PN claims that the government is reluctant to disclose contract details, citing an excessive burden of work to provide such information.
According to the Times of Malta, Enemalta, Malta’s state-owned power provider, rejected a freedom of information request seeking contracts between Enemalta and UNEC Limited, a Bonnici Brothers subsidiary. Enemalta stated that fulfilling the request would “substantially and unreasonably divert resources” from its operations.
Ryan Callus, the PN’s shadow minister for energy, condemned the government’s lack of transparency, stating, “The government of blackouts continues to keep us in the dark and hide what the Maltese and Gozitan people have a right to know.” The PN has submitted a parliamentary question urging the publication of the contracts and related documents.
In response, Enemalta clarified that it did not deny the information request but sought clarification on the time frame for the requested data. They also mentioned inviting the Times of Malta to review the contracts at a mutually agreed time.
The energy controversy has intensified as the Labour Government faces scrutiny over its management of the energy crisis. The installation of the Bonnici plant was completed in August after delays, with Enemalta asserting that Malta can meet energy demands, blaming recent power outages on distribution network issues.
The decision to install a temporary diesel-powered plant represents a significant shift from the government’s prior commitment to replace diesel with cleaner LNG energy. Enemalta defended this move, emphasizing the urgency of addressing potential energy shortages.
In January, the diesel plant was exempted from an environmental impact assessment after warnings of supply shortages. The contract was awarded to UNEC Ltd, which lacks extensive experience in managing power plants but secured the deal against three other bidders, including a Chinese state-owned company. UNEC is set to operate the plant for 27 months, while efforts continue to enhance Malta’s energy network with a second electricity interconnector to Sicily.
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