Industry is up in arms as it waits for the government to officially release the new water and electricity rates, over a week after the budget for 2009 was announced.
"What is keeping the government?" Federation of Industry director-general Ray Muscat asked yesterday when contacted by The Times Business. "Industry needs to plan. Our members have already signed contracts for next year. They need to know what the new utility rates are."
Mr Muscat said the FOI has been given the first year rates which it has circulated among its members, but confusion still remained over workings and billing - the rates are cumulative and charges are made according to consumption bands. The FOI is particularly unhappy with the industrial day and night rates, especially as the day rates have been raised.
The FOI released a statement on Monday calling on the government to release the new rates "without further delay". Some manufacturers are expecting utility bills to soar by 60 per cent or by hundreds of thousands of euros. The new rates could cost ST Microelectronics, Malta's most important exporter, an additional €3 million a year.
"Our main bone of contention is that all we have seen so far is a series of press conferences and a document here and there," Mr Muscat said. "The Legal Notices have not been published, and yet the new tariffs are retroactive to October 1.
"Enemalta is silent. The regulator, the Malta Resources Authority, is silent. Whenever we call the ministry, the officials are apologetic. We are angry because industry needs the official technical position from Enemalta."
Mr Muscat branded the delay "induced uncertainty" for industry.
"This is adding uncertainty in an already difficult climate for business, given the international situation. We urgently need official information."
"What is keeping the government?" Federation of Industry director-general Ray Muscat asked yesterday when contacted by The Times Business. "Industry needs to plan. Our members have already signed contracts for next year. They need to know what the new utility rates are."
Mr Muscat said the FOI has been given the first year rates which it has circulated among its members, but confusion still remained over workings and billing - the rates are cumulative and charges are made according to consumption bands. The FOI is particularly unhappy with the industrial day and night rates, especially as the day rates have been raised.
The FOI released a statement on Monday calling on the government to release the new rates "without further delay". Some manufacturers are expecting utility bills to soar by 60 per cent or by hundreds of thousands of euros. The new rates could cost ST Microelectronics, Malta's most important exporter, an additional €3 million a year.
"Our main bone of contention is that all we have seen so far is a series of press conferences and a document here and there," Mr Muscat said. "The Legal Notices have not been published, and yet the new tariffs are retroactive to October 1.
"Enemalta is silent. The regulator, the Malta Resources Authority, is silent. Whenever we call the ministry, the officials are apologetic. We are angry because industry needs the official technical position from Enemalta."
Mr Muscat branded the delay "induced uncertainty" for industry.
"This is adding uncertainty in an already difficult climate for business, given the international situation. We urgently need official information."