Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, currently on his way to China, will be meeting officials from Shanghai Electric while he visits the country, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi revealed in Parliament this evening.

He said he welcomed the meeting and the dialogue.

Shanghai Electric has bought the BWSC power station and a 33% shareholding in Enemalta.

He said he would announce new projects between Enemalta and Shanghai Electric in the coming months about renewable energy projects in Europe, mostly related to wind energy. 

Dr Mizzi was replying to a series of parliamentary questions by Nationalist MP Marthese Portelli on how only 25 people have been accused of theft of electricity when the minister had said 600 were involved.

Dr Mizzi said theft is down by a third. He said all cases were investigated and Enemalta was collecting what was due to it and payment programmes had been agreed. Cases had also been passed on to the police and there was 'a pipeline of activity'.

He said more anti-theft actions were being taken. For example, new electricity meters would not work is a magnet was placed near them and a signal would be received at head office.  After three attempts, the meter could only be activated by technicians on site.

Replying to a question by Anthony Agius Decelis, the minister said Enemalta was now in a better shape to invest in the distribution system.

He said he could not guarantee that there would not be power cuts this summer in areas such as Sliema, where the system was severely overloaded, but the company was tackling the issue.

Asked by Mario de Marco (PN) to publish the agreements with Shanghai Electric and Electrogas, Dr Mizzi said it would be unfair to reveal commercial matters although he was not against publishing the principles of the agreements. He said the only agreement not signed yet is the Security of Supply agreement, since approval by the European Commission was awaited, although indications were positive.