Thanks to the pressure exerted by the Opposition yesterday, both through a statement and in Parliament, we now know that the Labour Government did not negotiate any fixed price for the purchase of gas for the Delimara tanker, and that the price to be paid by Enemalta from our taxes will vary according to international market prices, the Nationalist Party said Tuesday.

Despite boasting that an agreement had been reached with BP, Minister Miriam Dalli "was forced to admit that the price the country will pay to ensure that, from August, we do not end up without gas supply for the power station, will depend on the market price," the PN said.

While yesterday the Government launched an attack on the Opposition, alleging that it had led a fear campaign on gas supply, and while Labour boasted that it had taken a decision that guarantees stability in the energy sector, Minister Dalli and Robert Abela have now had to admit that the price Malta will pay over the next nine months will be driven by the market. "Goodbye stability!", the PN said.

The only thing the Minister responsible for energy was able to do in Parliament yesterday was give an estimate of how much each unit of electricity from the interconnector costs today and how much it is likely to cost under this deal with BP. But she did not tell us whether there is an agreed maximum price ceiling should the market price of gas rise again.

Although the government is saying that the price for consumers will not change, the fact remains that the burden of these prices will be paid from our taxes or loaded onto public debt, the PN sdded.

Dalli also confirmed that this deal is nothing more than what she herself described as a "stopgap", and that, according to her, the Government has already started working on arrangements to purchase LNG after this agreement expires in May next year.

The fact that this agreement was only reached for a few months confirms that it is not a favourable deal, and confirms the lack of prudence of a government that waited until the final two months before the existing contract expired to negotiate a new one.

Through her statements in Parliament and outside it, Minister Dalli confirmed what the PN said: that in the energy sector, because the Labour Government dragged its feet until the very end when it knew that the contract with Electrogas would expire in August, there is no serious and long-term plan. Even in such a delicate and important sector, the Government is operating through a policy of management-by-crisis.

What is certainly fixed now that summer has returned is that every day there is a power cut somewhere.

If the Government is so proud of this agreement, it should have no problem publishing it and allowing the people to judge whether it is competitive and favourable, instead of expecting us to rely solely on its word, the PN said.

In reply, the Labour Party said the Opposition has once again demonstrated that it either does not understand how the energy sector works or is deliberately choosing to mislead the public.

Enemalta already purchases its energy and fuel supplies at international market prices. For years, this Government has absorbed fluctuations in global markets through substantial subsidies, protecting families and businesses from rising living costs, the PL said.

As a result, despite ongoing volatility in international markets, Maltese and Gozitan consumers continue to enjoy complete stability in their energy bills. This stands in stark contrast to the PN's policy position over recent years, during which it opposed energy subsidies and consistently argued that consumer prices should fluctuate in line with international market prices.

It appears that the PN is once again attempting to create unnecessary alarm in order to distract from the fact that it still lacks a shadow cabinet and is led by a leader who remains absent on the issues that matter most to the people, the PL said.

The Opposition cannot come to terms with the fact that the Government has successfully secured the best possible arrangement with a leading international company, an agreement that not only delivers competitive pricing but also provides strong guarantees for Malta's energy security

While the PN continues to sow fear and confusion, the public knows it can have peace of mind with a Labour Government. Only the Labour Party can guarantee stability in energy prices and provide reassurance to Maltese and Gozitan families and businesses.

Those who describe energy subsidies as short-lived have little credibility when criticising a Government that has consistently delivered certainty and peace of mind to the public. Under Labour Governments, Maltese families and businesses have benefited from around €1 billion in energy subsidies. This stability is here to stay, the PL said.