The government and the opposition crossed swords over oil exploration yesterday with the opposition spokesman insisting there were indications oil could be found off Malta and the Resources Minister asking him to give him the coordinates so that the government could start drilling.

Minister George Pullicino said that since Labour MP Joe Mizzi seemed to know where the oil is, he invited him to get a company to drill for this oil and become rich.

"Did Mr Mizzi really think the government was mad enough to know something like this and do nothing about it?" he asked amid shouts from the opposition benches.

Speaking on the parliamentary debate to approve the votes of the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, Mr Mizzi claimed that butimen and gas had been found off Malta and insisted oil could be found, particularly around Gozo. However, the government was not doing all it could for oil exploration to be successful.

Mr Mizzi said Labour government efforts at oil exploration had tailed off under the Nationalist government and not enough was being done to attract oil companies to Malta.

Admittedly, he said, oil quantities around Malta might not be enough to attract major oil companies, but they would certainly be viable for Malta. A small oil company had been interested but as the government dragged its feet over the matter, the credit crunch came about and this company was now unable to further its interest.

This government, he said, had lost chances in oil exploration, to the country's detriment.