Bus company denies receiving fuel subsidies, but PN raises doubts

Malta Public Transport has vehemently denied claims by shadow transport minister Marthese Portelli that is receiving subsidies for fuel.

However, Portelli warned that the Spanish-owned company’s explanation raises more questions than answers.

“We are a private company with a responsibility to our shareholders to negotiate the best possible commercial terms with all our suppliers,” MPT commercial director Daniel Grech said in a statement. “We would normally not discuss such commercial matters in public, but we have been forced to clarify this to avoid any misunderstandings.

“We are definitely one of the biggest consumers of diesel in Malta with a fleet of 360 buses operating 30 million kilometres every year, and it is only natural for us to secure the best rate possible for the supply of diesel for our services.”

MPT, owned by Spanish company Autobuses de Leon, said that it had obtained quotes from a number of diesel suppliers in Malta.

“Given the large volumes and our international network of operations, we even considered sourcing our diesel from other countries, but we ultimately decided to retain our supplies locally,” Grech said.

However, Marthese Portelli noted that MPT did not deny buying fuel at a cheaper rate from state-owned fuel importing company Enemed.

“[Transport minister] Joe Mizzi is still refusing to answer two basic questions – who is MPT buying their diesel from, and at what price?” she said in a statement. “These are pertinent questions, particularly in light of MPT’s admission that is negotiating the best possible rates for diesel.”