One of the first major announcements of the new legislature was the securing of a deal with global energy giant BP for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to continue to power the country.

This was announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela in a Labour Party activity last Sunday, with a statement from Enemalta formally announcing the news following soon after.

That in itself showed that the consistently blurred line that sometimes appears between party and state still remains alive and well: such announcements should be made via official means, and not during a broadcast on a political party television station.

But that gripe aside, the agreement puts to an end some uncertainty that there was with regards to the energy sector due to the fact that Malta's current gas supply deal expires in August. 

The agreement is, in nature, a short-term one.  It will run for nine month from this August until the end of May 2027.  That in itself does offer a lesser degree of stability than previous supply deals simply because it is a deal for a few months, rather than one which runs for longer.

Enemalta deserve fair praise for succeeding in securing an agreement in what is no doubt an extremely difficult international context right now, what with the inherent instability that is dominating the Middle East and wreaking havoc with energy prices all across the globe.

The PN has argued that the country will now be at the mercy of international market prices: 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.

Dalli did not share whether there is an agreed maximum price ceiling should the market price of gas rise again, the PN said, and the party added that 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 PL in reply said that Enemalta was already purchasing its energy and fuel supplies at international market prices and that, for years, this Government has absorbed fluctuations in global markets through substantial subsidies, protecting families and businesses from rising living costs.

If Enemalta was already purchasing energy at international market prices, then realistically, very little has changed with this new agreement - beyond obviously securing supply of LNG for longer.

For additional transparency, it would be good if the government would share the exact estimation of how much it will be paying in subsidies on the basis of this agreement and whether earlier estimations on the matter have changed given the new agreement.

It is good that the supply has been extended, even if it's by a few months, but the people ultimately have a right to have the highest possible degree of information, as the interests of transparency dictate.