Enemalta CEO Jonathan Cardona Allegedly Sacked After Power Cut Crisis, Transferred To OHSA

Following a catastrophic power outage last month, Enemalta CEO Jonathan Cardona has allegedly been fired in a significant administrative shake-up.

According to The Shift News, the action was personally ordered by Prime Minister Robert Abela in reaction to ongoing power outages in Malta and Gozo, which sparked criticism. Cardona will now serve as the Occupational Health and Safety Authority’s (OHSA) director in Mark Gauci’s stead as he retires.

Cardona was paid €160,000 annually when Energy Minister Miriam Dalli named her CEO of Enemalta in October 2021.

However, the recent series of nation wide power cuts sparked controversy all over the island with locals demanding compensation for business losses and inconveniences. The nation was essentially paralysed by the terrible blackouts combined with the rising temperatures.

This action not only reflects negatively on Minister Dalli, who personally selected Cardona for the position, but according to The Shift News, Abela has long believed Cardona to be “unfit for the job,” even if Dalli had been a fervent advocate for his selection.

Insiders at Enemalta have argued that the failures were caused by a lack of investment and long-term planning in the distribution network, despite the official narrative blaming the blackouts on recent heatwaves.

This discovery points to more serious structural problems that, which if not addressed right away, might harm the country’s economy in the long run.

Cardona is not new to controversies. Formerly a trusted adviser to the previous prime minister Joseph Muscat, he oversaw the controversial cash-for-citizenship program.

Cardona was reassigned to Enemalta after serving in that capacity for years, as pressure from Brussels to end the plan intensified.

For the time being, Chairman Ray Fava, the president of the Malta Dockers Union and a close friend of the Prime Minister’s father, former President George Abela, will lead Enemalta.

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