Konrad Mizzi’s energy ministry had recommended that Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna be appointed to one of the committees that selected Electrogas as the preferred bidder for the power station project.

This emerged during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, when MPs questioned former Enemalta CEO Louis Giordimaina.

Tonna is currently facing money laundering charges related to Nexia BT. The company was at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal, which saw Konrad Mizzi and former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri open offshore companies. The duo have been banned from travelling to the US due to their “involvement in significant corruption.”

An email leaked from Nexia BT spoke of plans for the two companies to receive millions from 17 Black, which later turned out to be owned by suspected Daphne murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech.

Questioned by MPs, Giordimaina also confirmed that the energy ministry had also recommended the appointment of David Galea, a close friend of Konrad Mizzi, to the evaluation committee.

The former CEO said he relied on the “expert advice” of the members of the selection committees. David Galea coordinated the different committees. Giordimaina saiud Galea had given him a presentation on their evaluation, and he [Giordimaina] later gave a presentation, to the Enemalta board, which was based on the presentation he had been given by Galea.

Earlier this year, former Enemalta chairman Charles Mangion had said the board had decided to endorse the Electrogas bid based on Giordimaina’s presentation.

But GIordimaina said he believes the board’s decision was not based on his personal views but rather on the expert reports. The former CEO said he was not personally involved in the selection process.