Independent MP Konrad Mizzi is in hospital and was unable to attend today's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting.

Media reports read that Mizzi is in hospital with a case of peritonitis, and might need to spend a few days there. Peritonitis is a redness and swelling (inflammation) of the tissue that lines the belly or abdomen.

Mizzi has been appearing before the PAC over the National Audit Office's report on the Electrogas deal and was set to continue delivering his oral presentation today, however was unable to attend due to medical reasons.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Beppe Fenech Adami read out a letter from Mizzi's legal representatives during the sitting. "We regret to inform you that our client Konrad Mizzi was admitted to hospital yesterday (Tuesday), hence he will not be able to attend today's (Wednesday) PAC session.  We hereby request the committee to respect Mizzi's privacy. We will inform you about Mizzi's availability to resume PAC sitting as soon as possible based on guidance from medical specialists," the correspondence read.

The committee wished Mizzi a speedy recovery.

Beppe Fenech Adami suggested that Mizzi be invited to attend the next PAC sitting on Wednesday 24 November, and see from there.

Former Electrogas director Paul Apap Bologna will also be called to attend that sitting. No witnesses appeared before the committee today.

Mizzi currently serves as an independent MP, after he was expelled from the Labour Party's Parliamentary Group in 2020.

Prior to his first appearance before the committee on November 3, the MP failed to attend four times when requested. Mizzi had refused the first two summons to the committee, saying that the process was a partisan witch hunt led by the Nationalist MPs on the committee, adding that he had every right to refuse to attend given that he is still an MP. He missed a further two meetings saying that his lawyers were not available.  A meeting was then set for 3 November, during which Mizzi appeared for the first time.

He attended his second PAC meeting on 10 November.

Mizzi was delivering his oral presentation during both sittings he had attended, and used this time to defend the Electrogas deal, targeting the PN's pre-2013 energy policy and comparing the situation back then to today. He said, for example, that energy bills at the time were among the highest in Europe, yet now are the lowest in the Eurozone. He had also spoken about the level of debt Enemalta had at the time, adding that the company did not have the financial capital to undertake this project itself. He also spoke about the bidder selection process, among other things.

Mizzi is expected to conclude his oral presentation in the next PAC meeting he attends, and the committee would then start asking questions.