Algerian company Sonatrach in 2004 offered Enemalta a natural gas solution which Labour’s electoral proposal mirrors, including a 10-year contract.

Enemalta was also told that the option could offer “cost and other advantages” over pipeline deliveries of gas.

The report was commissioned in February 2004, when Austin Gatt was minister responsible for Enemalta and Tancred Tabone was the corporation’s chairman.

Energy economist John Gault advised Enemalta to seriously consider pursuing the LNG option at least to the extent of exploring the costs of LNG from potential sources , such as Sonatrach.

“Sonatrach would be willing to sell Enemalta LNG and to co-invest in an LNG receiving, storage and regasification terminal in Malta as well as in the conversion of Enemalta’s power plants, in return for a take-or-pay contract for delivery of LNG,” says the report.

Full report in The Times.