Daphne Foundation Obtains Copy Of LNG Security Of Supply Deal After Year-Long Battle With Miriam Dalli’s Ministry
The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation has obtained and published a copy of a LNG security of supply agreement that former Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi had signed seven years ago.
The Foundation obtained the agreement*, which was signed between Mizzi and Electrogas shareholder Socar Trading SA, following a Freedom of Information request, which took around a year to conclude.
It lays out obligations undertaken by the Maltese government and Socar in securing Socar’s supply of LNG to the Delimara power station for ten years, with the agreement stating this was struck in view of the “substantial uncertainty of supply in the future global LNG market”.
Indeed, the world is currently in the midst of a LNG supply crisis, fuelled by the war in Ukraine. Russia recently shut off the Nord Steam 1 gas pipeline to Germany for an indefinite period, citing an oil leak in a turbine.
A photo released by Russian state energy company Gazprom of a leak it said it found on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline
However, amidst fears that several European families will be unable to afford the cost of heating their homes this winter, EU Council President Charles Michel accused Russia of weaponising gas.
The Energy Ministry, run by Miriam Dalli, had initially refused the Daphne Foundation’s FOI request, prompting it to file a complaint with the Information and Data Protection Commissioner, who decided in their favour last month.
The Foundation used its experience to highlight the problems within Malta’s FOI system, which is meant to allow citizens to request the disclosure of government documents and data in the public interest.
However, as the Foundation noted, requests are regularly denied and the process of obtaining information can drag on for months and years.
Earlier this year, the Foundation filed a constitutional case against the FOI Act itself, arguing that the remedies it provides are unconstitutional because they do not respect the right to freedom of expression and information protected by Article 41.
*An earlier version of this article included a hyperlink to a different security of supply agreement
Cover photo: Credit: Electrogas
Do you agree with this security of supply deal?
READ NEXT: Repubblika Announces Protest March Against Corruption In Valletta For Next Tuesday
