On the council election campaign trail in Marsa, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday continued to defend the fuel hedging deal reached with Azerbaijan’s State oil company.
Telling Labour Party supporters gathered under a tent that it was the government’s “duty” to defend people and businesses, he insisted the deal had led to a 2c reduction in fuel prices rather than a 2c increase.
Dr Muscat was referring to the ministerial direction given by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi to Enemalta last year to explore arrangements with Azeri oil company Socar.
The lack of sufficient documentation surrounding the deal was criticised in a report on fuel arrangements by the Auditor General published on Monday.
Dr Muscat defended the Auditor General’s work but insisted the easiest thing for him was to do nothing.
He explained that when Enemalta informed Dr Mizzi it would have to increase fuel prices because of unfavourable bids, the minister had approached the Azerbaijani government and subsequently urged Enemalta to negotiate with Socar.
“The difference between us and the previous [PN] administration is that they used to be criticised for doing nothing while we are being criticised for doing things,” Dr Muscat said.
Addressing Marsa residents, Dr Muscat said the closure of the power station was a milestone. He said it was now time “to dream” about how the area could be transformed into one that created jobs, attracted investment and served as a place of enjoyment.
“This government has done more for the south than any government has done in the past 25 years,” he said to applause.
Dr Muscat said the project to secure cleaner air for people of the south would be complete when the new gas power station at Delimara is complete.
In a barb aimed at environmentalists, he said the environment did not belong only to “the few who write in newspapers” but belonged to everyone.
Sitting behind Dr Muscat during the event was Labour candidate Frank Zammit, a former aide to Nationalist minister John Dalli and once the Nationalist mayor of Marsa.
Mr Zammit crossed the floor to Labour, and his candidacy for the local election is his first formal engagement with the Labour Party.