The Nationalist Party is insisting the government publishes all energy project contracts it has signed, particularly the one with Electrogas for the new gas power plant and those with China on the sale of Enemalta.

Addressing a press conference outside the Marsa power plant, PN deputy leader Mario de Marco said it was not acceptable that the government should continue to hide its dealings from the electorate.

To be credible and transparent, the government had to publish the contracts it signed on behalf of the Maltese people so that everyone could draw their own conclusions.

Parliament will on Monday debate the delays on the gas power plant project following a motion by the Nationalist Opposition.

After weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat admitted for the first time last week that the project had fallen behind schedule.

So far, the government has not given details on when the new plant will be on stream even though the reduction of electricity tariffs is intrinsically tied to the new facility.

Times of Malta has reported that a deal with China on the partial privatisation of Enemalta was also delayed.

The Nationalist Party’s energy spokesman, George Pullicino, said it was becoming clearer that the government did not want to say how it was financing the reduction of energy tariffs because that would mean admitting it was thanks to the efficiency of the new BWSC plant that had been commissioned under the PN administration.

Ryan Callus, the PN’s spokesman for planning, said it was the government that insisted on an impossible two-year time frame to build a new plant. The Prime Minister had now realised he was unable to keep his promises, he said.