It was to be expected that Transport and Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi would get some flak following the announcement by an oil company that it had plugged and abandoned an exploratory oil well it had been drilling south of Malta.

The reason for being the target of some sarcastic remarks is that, back in November, 2006, when the Labour Party was in Opposition, he had gone on record saying there was undeniable proof of the presence of oil in Maltese territorial waters. The problem was how to get to it.

That had been the main thrust of his remarks on the subject when he had spoken in a Budget debate on the votes of the ministry of resources and infrastructure. His comments would not appear to be totally out of place considering, for instance, how successful Italy has been in oil exploration in an area so close to Malta’s waters. Since oil has also been found in other parts of the Mediterranean, it would be really bad luck for Malta’s waters to be completely bereft of hydrocarbons, though only further drilling will ultimately confirm this or otherwise.

The problem for Mr Mizzi is that he had gone beyond this, declaring, for example, that he was so sure of the presence of oil in Malta that he would resign if no oil were found once Labour was returned to power. However, to be fair with him, Mr Mizzi did not say within which time, or after how many attempts.

What still needs to be clarified is the other statement he had made that there had been enough pressure in a Gozo well to raise the oil but that people were denied the resultant prosperity because that was what suited some quarters. This is a very serious allegation that ought to have been clarified forthwith at the time.

Mr Mizzi had gone on to say there was an area where no surveys could be carried out, where a well could have been dug but was not. Once it was returned to power, he said, Labour would get interested parties in and not stop working until oil was found, with no consideration of individuals’ pockets.

He had also argued that the main stumbling block over the Gozo oil well was related to commissions. Since Mr Mizzi had also said that things were done badly and that no investigation had ever been carried out, it is pertinent to ask if, since his appointment as minister, he had ordered an investigation of what happened at the time. Or would he argue that it is impossible to do so now because of the time that has passed? If, on the other hand, an investigation has been carried out, what are the results? Who were the members of the investigating team? Have the allegations been proven?

This country has had far too many disappointments in terms of oil exploration to be disheartened by the latest news of plugging another exploratory well offshore. However, the minister would perhaps wish to take the opportunity to give an account of the oil exploration programme.

For example, are there are developments in the joint exploration attempts with Italy, Libya and Tunisia? Admittedly, it may be difficult to make headway with Libya given the state of flux the country is in at present. But, some months ago, Greece had suggested cooperation with Malta and Cyprus in “the bid to maximise the potential for hydrocarbon discoveries”. Malta had taken up the proposal but, again, what is the outcome?