Enemalta yesterday explained the tendering process in relation to the contract for the building of an extension to the Delimara power station, in response to media articles doubting that process.

It said it has been known openly since 2001 that Enemalta was interested in building a new generation plant - Enemalta’s estimates that year referred to evaluating a 144MW extension to the power house.

Between 2004 and 2005 Enemalta started researching to evaluate various generation plants. It is normal practice at this stage to hold meetings with company representatives to learn what new technologies are available, and if they are adequate for the country.

The corporation said that at the beginning of 2006 a request for information (RFI) was published, in which international companies could show their interest. Meetings with representatives of all the companies that had expressed an interest in the RFI were subsequently held. In November 2006 a request for proposals (RFP) was published and six companies submitted their proposals. At this stage no further meetings were conducted with those making the offers except as laid down in the official process.

In 2007 companies were invited to tender after technical specifications were issued. The process was concluded in May 2009. This procedure showed that no tender had any advantage over competitors Enemalta did not accept any allegation that any tender had any information which could be advantageous.

The RFP had wide specifications which did not show preference to any type of plant over another, but which were in conformity with the environmental needs and directives of the European Union. The criteria subsequently used in the evaluation were indicated in the RFP and the evaluation followed the process established in the tender.

Enemalta said a former employee who resides in San Gwann had been mentioned. This person was employed with Enemalta up to 1989, and any emails that were referred to had been exchanged between this person and private companies. In a particular email the local agent of the company BWSC was referring to a 15MW extension, which is entirely different and which is not being implemented. At no stage were any Enemalta officials involved in the emails or contacts, Enemalta said.