The public is judging the difference that exists between the positive work being carried out by the government in the energy sector and the negative attitude taken by the Opposition which wants to include partisan politics in everything, the government said this evening.

This administration had inherited a sector that was neglected, with Enemalta Corporation crippled by debt, with the generation of power depending on the most polluting fuel and the highest energy tariffs.

In 18 months, the government said, the government had changed direction by recruiting a strategic partner from the second largest economy in the world (China) with the idea of eliminating the use of heavy fuel oil and the reduction of electricity bills.

Discussions with Shanghai Electric Power are in their final stages and the government will give more details when the talks are concluded, the government said. There is no political controversy as the Opposition suggested in this morning's press conference.

The Opposition was not ready to answer questions on the debt Enemalta had until March last year which, the government said, amounted to nearly €1 billion. It also defended the use of heavy fuel oil. Such reactions show that the Opposition cannot yet accept that the energy rates will go down for business as from March as they have done for households seven months ago.