The Nationalist Party has slammed the government for reimbursing Electrogas for its €40 million in excise duty tax.

Testifying before the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, as it continued to hear witness testimony about the National Audit Office's report into the Electrogas power station, was former Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred Camilleri.

When asked about an agreement for Enemalta to pay some €40 million in excise duty instead of Electrogas, Camilleri confirmed that while on paper Electrogas paid the excise duty itself, this was then reimbursed by Enemalta - effectively meaning that it was paid for with taxpayer's money.

He said that the agreement was a commercial one and that what was important for the Finance Minister - then Edward Scicluna - was that the excise duty was paid, which it was.

In a statement published by the PN, it slammed the government for reimbursing the taxes paid with public funds, instead of investing in Malta's infrastructure and distribution network.

The PN added that this shows how the government is only interested in protecting the interests of a small clique of people, instead of addressing national interest and safeguarding the common good.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana was once again caught not telling the truth, the PN said, as when Caruana responded to parliamentary question number 7926 back in April he said that the excise duty is being paid by the Electorgas consortium.