Enemalta will “in the coming days” supply The Times with information about its oil procurement history, which it had earlier refused to reveal despite a Freedom of Information request made following corruption allegations.

He is giving instructions for Enemalta to provide the requested information

The development follows an intervention by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who ordered the corporation to disclose its oil buying history for the past 20 years in spite of its claim that the information was prejudicial.

The Times asked for the information in light of claims that oil company Trafigura paid commissions to petrochemist Frank Sammut, a former adviser to Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone.

The details would shed light on how often Trafigura won contracts and if it maintained a privileged position before, during or after Mr Sammut’s involvement in oil purchasing.

“Minister Fenech was not informed of the corporation’s decision not to provide the information.

“While he disassociates himself from this decision, he is giving instructions for Enemalta to provide the requested information unless it was being specifically prevented from doing so by the police due to ongoing investigations,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

Asked for its reaction to Mr Fenech’s statement, Enemalta said: “We will be getting back to you with all the information in the coming days.”

The energy corporation had originally refused to disclose this information due to “commercial sensitivity”. But after The Times filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act, the reason for withholding the information changed, with Enemalta citing Article 30(2) of the Act: a document can be withheld if it could “reasonably be expected to prejudice the fair trial of a person”.

The same article applies if the document could reasonably be expected to prejudice the impartial adjudication of a case by any court, tribunal, disciplinary board, arbitration panel or inquiries.

The article also specifies that the document could be withheld if it could prejudice the effectiveness of lawful methods or procedures for preventing, detecting, investigating or dealing with matters arising out of breaches or evasions of the law, or prejudice the maintenance or enforcement of lawful methods for the protection of public safety.

The Times challenged Enemalta’s refusal to disclose the information through a review procedure.

Last week, The Times reported the police had enough evidence to issue charges on the case but more people had to be questioned.