Labour demands explanation on surcharge rise

The government has a lot of explaining to do before raising the electricity surcharge "without any consultation whatsoever", the Labour Party said yesterday.

Last friday, the MLP said, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said that Malta's oil purchases this year were covered by a hedging agreement and that Enemalta was not purchasing oil at current record prices. However, he was reported as saying that the surcharge cannot remain at the 50 per cent rate after June.

In a statement issued a day after the issue was discussed with social partners, the MLP said the government at that meeting had again shirked its responsibility to present a plan of action to ease the cost of living burden.