Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi has promised to announce changes to the oil procurement system next week.

The ministry is committed to ensuring a transparent fuel procurement process

“The ministry is committed to ensuring a transparent fuel procurement process, restoring public trust and procuring oil at the lowest cost possible,” his spokeswoman said.

Earlier, Dr Mizzi said the changes to the process were aimed at attracting more bids, introducing greater transparency and achieving better prices.

Referring to the judicial protest filed by oil giant Total, Dr Mizzi insisted that companies linked to the oil procurement scandal should not be allowed to bid, pending investigations.

Speaking on TVAM, Dr Mizzi also revealed that costs connected to the interconnector with Sicily were expected to exceed projections by €26 million.

He said the project would cost more than €200 million and the overruns were due to various factors, including route changes.

Reiterating his Government’s commitment to reducing electricity tariffs, he said interest in the gas project had increased after the election, with several embassies requesting information about the call for expressions of interest. Timelines were being worked out, he added.

Dr Mizzi explained Enemalta workers would be assigned to work in the new power station built by the private sector.

They would remain on Enemalta’s books and be paid by the corporation, which would then be reimbursed by the private operator.

Dr Mizzi said he would like to see closer controls on the financial operations of Arms Ltd, in particular better defined policies and less discretion in the handling of billing complaints.

Dr Mizzi said the scheme for investment in photovoltaic panels would be launched shortly. Existing contracts and the feed-in tariffs would be unchanged.