AN wonders where Malta stands in Libya-Italy pipeline deal

Azzjoni Nazzjonali leader Josie Muscat and deputy leader An?lu Xuereb yesterday called on the government to say whether Malta had given the go-ahead for the use of its continental shelf for a gas pipeline stretching from Libya to Sicily.

Addressing a press conference at The Palace Hotel, in Sliema yesterday, as part of the electoral campaign under the slogan Sovereignty, Seriousness, Justice, the AN top exponents said Tunisia was getting €93 million (Lm39,924,900) annually for allowing an underwater gas pipeline between Algeria and Italy to go through an area falling under its jurisdiction.

Dr Muscat said the pipeline from Mellitah in Libya to Gela in Sicily was laid as a result of an agreement between the Italian company ENI and Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi.

The map supplied by ENI shows that the pipeline passes through Malta's continental shelf, he said. It is estimated that it is just 12 miles off Dmitri Point, in Gozo.

The ownership of the continental shelf was of extreme importance when it came to drilling rights for oil exploration, he noted.

Dr Muscat said that, in the absence of information on this matter, AN was asking whether Malta had given its approval for the pipeline to be laid.

He asked whether the government had negotiated some form of agreement with Libya or Italy through which Malta could benefit, whether there was an agreement on the pipeline with Libya or whether the good relations with Italy had resulted in compensation for Malta.

Perhaps the time has come for Malta to follow Tunisia's example and negotiate in order to start receiving millions of euros to compensate for the use of its territory by other countries, he said.

The Maltese were owed an explanation as to how a country like Malta, surrounded by countries that struck oil and gas, was still importing oil.

Is it possible the Maltese and Gozitans were being deprived of millions of euros because of the lack of an agreement with the parties concerned, he asked.

Mr Xuereb said that according to the international agreement UNCLOS 3, any state had the right to pass a pipeline over the continental shelf of another state but had to have the approval of the coastal state allowing the use of its shelf.

AN, he said, has information that Libya and Italy have plans to lay another pipeline to boost gas supplies to Italy.

AN is expected to announce its electoral manifesto on Saturday.