Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi.

The person who runs the government’s health agency has been appointed to chair a new independent regulator that will oversee the water and electricity companies falling under the same ministry.

James Camenzuli is the CEO of the Foundation for Medical Services, appointed by Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi on a position-of-trust basis, with an annual salary of €57,000 and various other perks.

This newspaper has learned he has now been appointed by Dr Mizzi as chairman of the Regulator for Energy and Water Services, set up last July. This body oversees Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation, both of which also fall within Mr Mizzi’s portfolio.

Sources within the regulator questioned Mr Camenzuli’s independence, saying there was a clear conflict of interest in the roles he occupied. “Mr Camenzuli is now answerable to Minister Konrad Mizzi on the management of the Foundation of Medical Services and at the same time is expected to ‘watch’ Enemalta and WSC.”

The new regulator’s CEO will be Marjohn Abela, the son of former Labour Minister Wistin Abela, who until a few months ago occupied the post of deputy chairman of the Malta Resources Authority. He was employed without a call and on a position-of-trust basis.

He was appointed by Minister Mizzi on a position-of-trust basis,with a salary of €57,000

A spokesman for the ministry confirmed the MRA has been stripped of its main responsibility of regulating the energy and water sectors in Malta. Questions sent to Mr Camenzuli yesterday remained unanswered by the time of going to press.

“The aim of the new regulator is to improve consumer protection,” the spokesman said.

He said that while energy and water regulation had now been taken over by the new regulator, the MRA will temporarily handle issues related to minerals, boreholes and climate change.

“These functions will be absorbed within the new Environmental Agency to be set up.”

Apart from Mr Camenzuli as chairman, Minister Mizzi has appointed Mario Azzopardi, Katrina Borg Cardona, Fredrick Cutajar and Jason Grima as directors.