Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/401761
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION WEDNESDAY • 22 OCTOBER 2014 • ISSUE 387 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY €0.90 Editorial - PAGE 9 CONTINUES PAGE 2 Newspaper post CONTINUES PAGE 2 Mizzi says letter reveals Pullicino's direct involvement in PV contract Libya requesting 'logistical support' to overcome conflict Pullicino denies allegations and asks police commissioner to investigate Energy Minister's claims MIRIAM DALLI AND TIM DIACONO ENERGY Minister Konrad Mizzi yesterday said that it was former Na- tionalist resources minister George Pullicino's permanent secretary, Chris Ciantar, who had sent a letter of intent accepting a €35 million photovoltaic panel project at higher feed-in tariffs than the market price of energy, and without a valid bank signature con- firming liquidity requirements. Mizzi was reacting to comments by opposition energy spokesman George Pullicino, who said in the current af- fairs TVM programme 'Reporter' that it was the finance ministry and the Malta Resources Authority who were responsible for the contract. The letter of intent, first mentioned in parliament on Monday during a debate on the Labour government's energy policy, reveals that the former Nationalist government had accepted the Alberta-Solarig offer to supply government buildings with PV panels, two months before feed-in tariffs were approved by the Malta Resources Au- thority. The government had accepted the Solarig offer of €0.2295 per kWh of en- ergy produced, excluding VAT, when domestic users actually paid Enemalta 16c per kWh they consumed. "This letter of intent is intended to create a legally binding contract be- tween the parties," read the letter re- vealed by Minister Mizzi yesterday, together with a photograph, accessible through Solarig's website, that shows George Pullicino shaking the hands of the consortium members as he person- ally handed them the letter of intent. The government has now asked the police to investigate the €35 million contract issued under the previous administration to Solarig, because a document from the Spanish bank Ban- caja, certifying that the company had the necessary liquidity to deliver the 4.5MW project, lacked the necessary signatures. Yesterday evening, Mizzi refused to withdraw the allegations made against Pullicino after Speaker Anglu Farrugia ruled that the minister should either substantiate or withdraw his allega- tions. Delivering his ruling, Farrugia said that Mizzi should substantiate his al- legations, but while refusing to do so the energy minister tabled the letter of intent addressed to the Alberta Photo- voltaic Consortium. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD MIRIAM DALLI LIBYA is requesting "logistical support" to overcome the conflict that has afflicted it, visiting Libyan Prime Minister Abullah al Thinni said. Al Thinni, together with his dep- uty prime minister and four other ministers, is in Malta for bilateral meetings with Maltese government representatives. Malta's talks with Libya will also include Bernardino Leon, Head of the United Nations Support Mis- sion in Libya. Leon landed in Malta yesterday evening. Al Thinni's visit to Malta – ex- pected to last between 48 to 72 hours – prompted heightened secu- rity and news of his travel to Malta could only be released once security was cleared and he was in Maltese airspace. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Libyan Prime Minister ad- dressed a press conference follow- ing a meeting that lasted two hours. Present for this meeting was also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, George Vella. CONTINUES PAGE 3 Police find corpse, likely that of Francis Cauchi THE police were yesterday after- noon informed of a suspicious sight- ing – thought likely to be a human cadaver – in Wied ic-Cawsli, be- tween Qormi and Luqa. District Police arrived on the scene, led by Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud and Sergeant Joe Vella, as well as Inspector Keith Arnaud from the Department of Criminal Investi- gation. The cadaver was found near a bridge, submerged in grass, head first to the ground, and in an advanced stage of decomposition. Mortuary employees were called to the scene for assistance. Since the body was found when al- ready in an advanced state of decom- position, the Police found it difficult to definitively pin down the identity of the victim. However, it is not be- ing excluded that the body is that of Francis Cauchi, 54 from Bormla, who was reported missing on 11 September of this year – the primary clue being that the corpse wore a red shirt, which tallies with Cauchi's last reported sighting. Forensic doctor Mario Scerri was also on site. Scene of the Crime of- ficers noted that a key was hung over the victim's neck – a possible indica- tion of the victim's identity, though the Police will be awaiting the final autopsy and DNA results before ar- riving at any conclusions. The cadaver was taken to the Mater Dei hospital mortuary, where an autopsy should determine wheth- er there was any violence before the man passed away. Konrad Mizzi shows the photograph of George Pullicino handing over the letter of intent to the successful consortium Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with Abdullah al Thinni, his Libyan counterpart (left)