The reduction in the price of fuel does not reflect the reduction of the price of oil on the international market, Labour spokesman Joe Mizzi said yesterday.

He said that an analysis of the price fluctuations on the international market showed that the reduction announced by the government on the price of fuel in October does not conform with international developments.

He said it is apparent that either Enemalta is reducing energy prices at a lesser rate to compensate for its inefficiencies or else it is not managing to buy fuel at good prices.

The government has a duty to explain why this is happening, and ensure that any revision of the surcharge on water and electricity rates reflects everything that is happening on the international market, said Mr Mizzi.

In reply to Mr Mizzi’s statement, the Investment, Industry and IT Ministry said that the Labour MP took the opportunity to criticise the government every time the price of petrol went up, without taking the international situation into consideration. This time around, the Ministry said, Mr Mizzi was was using the international situation to criticise the government because the reduction in the price of fuel was not enough.

Explaining once again how the price of fuel was calculated vis-a-vis international prices, the Ministry said Mr Mizzi took every opportunity to criticise the government.

“The truth is that Enemalta has no control over the

international price of oil, when it goes up or when it goes down, and Mr Mizzi’s criticism will not change this fact,” the Ministry said.