Mangion demands electricity subsidy explanation

Opposition leader Charles Mangion yesterday demanded an explan-ation of how much the government is forking out on the electricity bills subsidy as he accused Finance Minister Tonio Fenech of "playing around with the electricity bills subsidy to suit his cause".

He asked why Mr Fenech had said that the subsidy had cost the government €30 million more than budgeted for the first six months of the year.

Dr Mangion said that in a July 8 statement announcing a hike in the surcharge to 95 per cent, the finance minister had stated that during the nine months between October 2007 and last June, the government had forked out (not more than) €37 million in subsidies for this purpose.

At the same time, Dr Mangion said, the pre-budget document states that by October, subsidies to Enemalta will amount to €43 million.

Meanwhile Investment Minister Austin Gatt had said in parliament that the government had given Enemalta €72 million in subsidies between 2005 and 2007, an average of €24 million annually, and was planning to hand over €37 million this year.

Dr Mangion, who is also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said this proves that "by no means was there some €30 million increase in this subsidy in the first six months of this year" as Mr Fenech had tried to insinuate.