Former Nationalist minister Michael Falzon has been appointed as an independent, non-voting observer on the oil procurement committee, The Sunday Times has learnt.

Mr Falzon, an architect and civil engineer by profession, will monitor the operations of Enemalta’s oil procurement committee, which Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi is reconstituting.

When contacted, Mr Falzon confirmed the appointment, saying his role as an independent member would be to monitor the proceedings and procedures used in the purchase of oil by the state’s energy company.

He also confirmed that the offer came directly from Mr Mizzi, with whom he had an exchange on his role on the committee.

A spokesman for the Govern-ment also confirmed Mr Falzon’s appointment. Mr Falzon said that before accepting the position, he informally consulted a number of people including officials within the Nationalist Party, of which he is a member.

He said he accepted the position because both main parties agree on oil procurement and it is not a controversial sector.

“It is in nobody’s interest that the procurement of oil is not carried out above board because it’s in the national interest. It is in this spirit that I accepted this role,” Mr Falzon said.

He also confirmed that he had informed the Minister that any allowances for this appointment are to be forwarded directly to charity.

Dr Mizzi said he intended to review the procurement of oil planning to achieve more transparency and better prices.

Mr Falzon, 67, was Infrastructure Minister in 1987 when he was responsible for the development of the Delimara power station. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 and then re-elected in the 1981, 1987 and the 1992 general elections.

Between 1998 and 2008, Mr Falzon served as chairman of the Water Services Corporation and contested the European Parliament elections on behalf of the PN in 2004.

The procurement of oil was the highlight of the past electoral campaign, following a number of arrests and arraignments over alleged kickbacks received for buying oil in the past.

An investigation led the previous Administration to recommend a presidential pardon for George Farrugia, an oil trader who was willing to give evidence on the scandal if he was immune from prosecution.

Former Enemalta officials and businessmen have been charged as a result of the police investigation.

mxuereb@timesofmalta.com

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