Abela says gas tanker incident shows Malta needs competent government

A gas tanker found drifting in international waters shows how crucial it is for Malta to have a government that is competent and prepared for any situation, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.

Speaking at a Labour activity in Paola on Sunday, Abela said the Maltese authorities had acted from the first moment to address the situation. He criticised the opposition leader's response to the incident, saying his mentality was dangerous. "Whatever happens, we need to give people peace of mind," he said.

He also announced that the Cabinet would meet the following day at the Civil Protection Department headquarters, where a new collective agreement for law enforcement and security workers would be presented. 

Abela was speaking about the Arctic Metagaz, a Russian-flagged LNG tanker that forms part of Russia's sanctioned shadow fleet, which was struck in a suspected drone attack in international waters southeast of Malta on 3 March. The vessel was carrying about 140,000 cubic metres of LNG and was transiting through the Mediterranean after departing the Arctic area. All crew were rescued.

Transport Malta has now engaged an international salvage company to draw up a plan for the stricken Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz , as the vessel continues to drift in the central Mediterranean, more than 50 nautical miles from Maltese shores.

He warned of tensions in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf affecting energy prices, with reports of oil reaching $200 a barrel. He noted that in Sicily, just 60 miles away, there had been moments when diesel prices reached twice those in Malta, which had remained the cheapest in the EU through its subsidy policy.

He criticised Opposition leader Alex Borg for calling energy subsidies a short-term measure during his leadership campaign, recalling that in 2008, the Nationalist government responded to a far smaller crisis by distributing a few lightbulbs. He said Malta stood firm against European Commission pressure to remove subsidies, while the opposition sided with the Commission.

Abela also spoke about Malta's foreign policy, invoking Dom Mintoff's principle of neutrality and pointing to EU member states with military bases that had become caught up in conflicts. "Wars are not solved by investing in weapons. They are solved through diplomacy and dialogue," he said.

Despite the geopolitical pressures, he said the government had continued to deliver on its promises, noting the latest budget included a €9.3 billion investment. He said two tax cuts worth €140 million and €160 million had been introduced, and that a second tax cut for parents took effect in January.

Abela attacked what he called the Nationalist Party's politics of punishment and austerity, saying the burden was placed on ordinary people. He referred to the cases of Daniel Attard and Carmelo Abela, saying both had faced political attacks based on unsubstantiated allegations, with no apology offered.

Abela closed by inviting supporters to gather in Birgu on the eve of Freedom Day on 31 March, saying this year the celebration carried particular significance given the international situation.