Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi must be living in a “parallel reality”, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said on Wednesday evening.

He was addressing a press conference shortly after the former energy minister said a damning NAO report was actually proof that ‘best practices’ had been followed.

One of the main findings of the NAO investigation as that interconnector energy prices were cheaper. The report, Delia pointed out, said the country was paying some €200 more than it should be paying through its use of the Electrogas plant.

“These are 200 million reasons why Mizzi should resign immediately,” Delia said.

“The contract was tampered with from day one because not all bidders were treated in the same way,” he added.  

Delia also highlighted noted that Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna was the team leader of the RFP evaluation committee. This when he was also the auditor of GEM holdings, one of the partners in the Electrogas consortium.

“People are paying the price of corruption. The government gave you €2.33 but it is robbing you of €200 million a year, for 18 years,” he said, referring to the controversial gas supply and power purchase agreements.  

“Joseph Muscat cannot keep running away. Konrad Mizzi has to go. He (Mizzi) is eroding the reputation of our country and costing this country millions every year. Who will be paying the €200 back?”

Delia said the “premeditated” plan to rob the country millions every year was now “crystal clear.”

“Muscat is defending the indefensible. Even his MPs now realise that the time has run out. Konrad Mizzi has to leave now. If he doesn’t the responsibility falls foursquare on the PM. Mizzi has shamed the country. The ball is now in the PM’s court.”