Cassar Petroleum Services Ltd – the company currently supplying fuel to Gozo Channel vessels – was awarded the contract after it had submitted the cheapest bid and complied with all the necessary technical requirements, the company’s lawyer Matthew Brincat told The Sunday Times of Malta.

Reacting to a story published last month in which it was revealed that Gozo Channel was paying much more to fuel its three ships after deciding to change its supplier of almost 25 years, Dr Brincat clarified that Cassar petroleum – the new suppliers – was chosen only after a competitive quotation process.

“Cassar Petroleum Services Ltd is currently supplying efficiently to Gozo Channel according to the tender approved and accepted by Gozo Channel, which in turn has also expressed its satisfaction with the efficient service provided by the company,” Dr Brincat said.

According to the company’s lawyer, no problems have been reported so far.

Last month, The Sunday Times of Malta revealed that when Gozo Channel temporarily engaged AC Fuels earlier this year, the change in supplier was costing the company an extra €7,000 per week.

Asked last week to confirm that the company was paying more for its fuel following the change of supplier, Gozo Channel Chairman Joe Cordina said that a new supplier was selected following a public call and that everything was above board.

He said he denied the cost of the change was €7,000 per week, saying the figure was actually closer to €5,000 or €6,000.

Following a quotation issued by Gozo Channel, Go Fuels offered to supply fuel at €50 per metric tonne – by far the lowest of the four bids received. However, the Gozitan company was disqualified on the basis that it did not meet the technical requirements.

Instead Gozo Channel chose AC Fuels on a temporary basis which quoted a price of €116 per metric tonne.

Following another quotation, from August fuel has been supplied to Gozo Channel by Cassar Petroleum.