Updated | Pullicino had no knowledge of correspondence between Sant and Farrugia

An email by Malta Resources Authority director Godwin Sant to pardoned oil trader George Farrugia refers to advice which could be given to “George” – presumably former resources minister George Pullicino – in preparation for a legislative draft on petrol stations.

Sant, then energy director at the MRA, used his Gmail account on 24 March 2009, to ask Farrugia whether he should advise “George” about announcing the holistic change in the petrol station upgrade that week.

Sant and Farrugia are both on police bail in connection with a criminal investigation on the procurement of oil for Enemalta purchases corruption scandal, and their cosy relationship in which the oil trader was kept abreast of government policies through Sant.

In his email to Farrugia, Sant – until recently appointed to the energy ministry’s water conservation unit – acts as advisor to Farrugia, suggesting the company VOPAK for storage technology, pointing out to him that VOPAK are “bigger than Oiltanking”.

Farrugia held a monopoly on the construction of petrol pump stations on the island. 

The email which Godwin Sant sent to George Farrugia asking him whether he should advise “George” – presumably former minister George Pullicino – to announce the holistic petrol station upgrade

Sant, who may yet be arraigned by the police, has been shown to have received free soccer tickets from oil giant Trafigura at the request of George Farrugia.

MaltaToday has also revealed that Sant kept Farrugia abreast of confidential minutes related to changes in petrol station policy.

Farrugia was commissioned to construct five petrol pump stations between 2008 and 2013, at a time when the green light for fuel pump development depended on Godwin Sant.

In February 2013, Farrugia was given a presidential pardon to tell police about his role in devising a bribes system for senior Enemalta officials to facilitate the procurement of oil from Trafigura and TOTSA for the state utility corporation.

Farrugia was not just a lubricants importer in his business. First, through family firm Powerplant, then later through his own company Aikon, he provided fuel pump technology and infrastructure to Malta’s petrol station operators. Sant, the Malta Resources Authority director responsible for energy policy until 2013, was instrumental in approving the development of new fuel pumps by applicants. 

Last Sunday MaltaToday published information that indicated that each petrol station development could rake in at least €350,000 and leave a profit of between €70,000 and €90,000 for each development. 

The emails also show that commercially sensitive information was exchanged between Sant and George Farrugia, such as those about a meeting of 20 February, 2009, at the MRA energy directorate, attended by Maurizio Busuttil from the MRA, and Mark Scerri and Michael Seychell for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. 

The subject included a proposed legal notice on the control of volatile organic compound emissions, namely the storage and distribution of petrol from terminal to service stations. The proposals were earmarked for the Office of the Prime Minister but were in Farrugia’s hands before they even got to the PM. 

Farrugia eventually set up his own company, Centre Point Resources Limited, to carry out business constructing petrol pump stations.

Minutes of the meetings he gave to Farrugia gave out information on how the fuel dispensers would have to be upgraded, and on the incorporation of recovery of gases, upgrade of pipework and removal and re-instatement of forecourt areas. 

This information was important for George Farrugia to be able to clinch the contracts to build the petrol pump stations. 

The fuel stations which Farrugia developed included the JM Micallef petrol station off Mdina, the one on Attard Road leading to Rabat, the Tal-Barrani petrol station, and the Gaffarena petrol station in Qormi, which was only sanctioned to start operations recently. 

Pullicino reacts

In an email to this newsroom, former PN minister George Pullicino categorically denies being aware of communication between George Farrugia and Godwin Sant. 

"I was never aware that Ing Godwin Sant was communicating with George Farrugia. On the Petrol Stations Regulations I acted upon the advice of MRA's technical officials during the fortnightly meetings I used to have with the MRA Chairman, CEO and other officers," the email reads. "My decisions were taken purely after considering all technical and environmental options."