State energy corporation to become public limited company
Opposition’s spokesman for the energy George Pullicino says Act is about the “partial privatisation” of Enemalta.
The Enemalta Act 2014 will transform the state’s energy corporation into a public limited company, transferring all the assets, rights, liabilities and obligations of the Corporation.
With the transfer of all the assets, the government will also do away with the residual liability of the corporation.
“This government was committed to save Enemalta, changing it from an albatross around the country’s neck to one that generates economy. Enemalta has a bright future ahead of it and the workers’ jobs are guaranteed,” Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said.
Mizzi said the government’s work with Enemalta so far has been praised by credit rating agencies and the European Commission.
“This Act will improve Enemalta’s operations and will also set up an Engineering Resources Ltd,” he said.
The Engineering Resources Ltd will take on all the rights and obligations which Enemalta had towards its employees prior to the transfer of all workers to Engineering Resources.
Mizzi reiterated that all workers will be transferred with their present rights, seniority, grades and collective agreements. “Workers’ unions and workers are being constantly informed about these updates,” he said.
He added that the government will honour its job guarantees and proceeded to list “five principles” that the government has pledged to adhere to.
“The workers’ jobs are guaranteed and the salaries and conditions will be respected. No worker will be forced to work abroad and call for applications will be issued when opportunities abroad arise,” Mizzi said.
Workers working with subsidiary companies will be seconded.
The Energy Minister denied that workers will be given a three-year definite contract.
Taking the floor, Opposition’s spokesman for energy George Pullicino said the Act will lead to the “partial privatisation” of Enemalta.
He took the government to task over its failure to publish both the memorandum of understanding signed with Shanghai Electric Power and ElectroGas. Shanghai Electric Power will be purchasing 33% of shares at Enemalta.
“The government has sold the BWSC plant to the Chinese and will be selling the petroleum division. All these agreements have however not been made public. It will also implement a secret agreement with ElectroGas and we know nothing of how Enemalta will purchase electricity and how much it will pay,” Pullicino said.
He added that the Opposition agreed with the use of LNG but it disagreed with the government's decision to become a minority stakeholder in the generation of electricity.
"The Opposition will be voting against the Act because it was against the privatisation of Enemalta," Pullicino added.