[WATCH] Mizzi says letter reveals Pullicino’s direct involvement in PV contract

Mizzi says Solarig given preferential feed-in tariff before MRA approval. Video Ray Attard

Energy minister Konrad Mizzi has revealed a letter of intent that former resources minister George Pullicino's permanent secretary, Chris Ciantar, had sent to the Alberta Group, a member of the Solarig consortium tasked with a €35 million PV panel project.

The letter said that the government had accepted their offer for a contract worth €35 million in September, two months before it was approved by the Malta Resources Authority.

The bank letter from Bancaja to Solarig under contestation

The letter reads: "This is to confirm that the government has accepted your offer in respect to the above mentioned tender and shall be placing a contract with the government for the rate of €0.2295 per kwh, excluding VAT.

"This letter of intent is intended to create a legally binding contract between the parties. Once the contract is signed, its terms and conditions will be retrospectively govern the work carried out by you pursuant to this letter of intent. You will be contacted later on for the signing of the concession agreement."

Moreover, Mizzi said that Pullicino had personally delivered the letter to the consortium, revealing a photo showing Pullicino shaking the hands of the consortium members.

Pullicino said on the television programme Reporter on Monday that it was the Malta Resources Authoruty and the finance ministry who were responsible for the contract.  "What he said on Reporter on Monday is a big lie," Mizzi said. "His reaction of furore in parliament, and again on Reporter on Monday, convinced me that I was right. Pullicino and Simon Busuttil, who defended him, have a lot of explaining to do." 

Alberta Letter of Intent

Mizzi said that an audit team had uncovered inconsistencies both in the expression of intent and the tender phases. "Alberta were not disqualified for the technical issues that other bidding companies were disqualfied for," Mizzi said. "Bidders had to submit proof that their finances were in check.

"A document supposedly issued by Bancaja said that Solarig wasn't in a state of bankruptcy, however the document wasn't signed. When contacted by the auditors, the bank said that it couldnt have been issued by them."