Fi stqarrija il-kelliem ta’ AD dwar l-enerġija u l-infrastruttura, Ralph Cassar ikkummenta fuq l-aktar aħbarijiet riċenti dwar il-provista tal-gass mill-kumpanija tal-gvern tal-Ażerbajġan, is-SOCAR.

“Alternattiva Demokratika dejjem saħqet li l-gass huwa fjuwil importanti fit-tranżizzjoni għal sorsi rinnovabbli ta’ enerġija. L-għan aħħari, iżda, għandha tkun ekonomija ‘żero karbonju’ – għan li l-pajjiż huwa ferm ‘il-bogħod milli jilħaq. It-traskuraġni u nuqqas kbir ta’ azzjoni u viżjoni dwar l-enerġija minn gvernijiet preċedenti huwa wkoll fatt li ħadd ma jista’ jiċħad. Iżda illum il-punt huwa ieħor: il-kuntest li fih sar il-ftehim mal-gvern tal-Ażerbajġan.”

“Il-kuntratt għall-provista’ tal-gass minn SOCAR lil kumpanija oħra, li tagħha wkoll is-SOCAR huma azzjonijsti jidher li tiffaforixxi bil-kbir lill-Ażerbajġan. Billi ma tantx għandna dettalji f’idejna huwa diffiċli tagħmel kummenti dettaljati, imma minn dak magħruf jidher li l-kuntratt huwa suspettuż. Ir-rabta fuq il-prezzijiet tal-gass fuq perjodu twil hija riskju. Bħala AD konna diġa sħaqna li rabta fit-tul tista’ tkun ta’ żvantaġġ. Ix-xiri tal-gass mingħand ix-Shell biex jerġa jinbiegħ u l-involviment ta’ wieħed mill-aktar gvernijiet korrotti fid-dinja ukoll iqajjem diversi mistoqsijiet. U fil-kuntest ta’ stejjer oħra, l-involviment ta’ Konrad Mizzi, ta’ Brian Tonna u Nexia BT ikompli jagħmel il-ftehim dwar il-gass aktar u aktar suspettuż.”

“Il-mistoqsijiet imqajjma mid-DaphneProject għandhom jitwieġbu fid-dettall. Dan il-ftehim sar f’kuntest inkwetanti: kumpaniji sigrieti, kontijiet tal-bank sigrieti, mexxejja korrotti u ħawwada mill-Ażerbajġan u bank li mid-dehra huwa involut fil-ħasil tal-flus tar-reġim tal-Ażerbajġan.”

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In a statement AD spokesperson on energy and infrastructure, Ralph Cassar commented on the revelation of details regarding the contract for the supply of gas by Azebaijani state owned company SOCAR.

“Alternattiva Demokratika has been pushing for a move towards cleaner and renewable energy in Malta and has always been in favour of investment in infrastructure to make our energy supply more sustainable. Gas is an important transition fuel, much cleaner than other fossil fuels, however the aim should always have been a net zero carbon economy, something from which the country is very far from achieving. The neglect and carelessness of previous governments in the energy sector is also a fact nobody can deny. However, the issue here is the context in which today’s deals were struck.”

“The contract for the supply of gas by SOCAR, to another company which is also part-owned by SOCAR, is one sided, with the Azebaijani’s making huge profits. Since not enough details are available it is difficult to make detailed comments, but everything seems to point towards a very shady deal. Fixing a price for a long period is also risky, indeed we had commented on this aspect of the contract a couple of years ago. The purchasing and resale of fuel from Shell and the involvement of one of the most corrupt regimes in the world also raises multiple questions. Konrad Mizzi’s direct involvement, as does the involvement of Brian Tonna and Nexia BT makes the deal more suspect.”

“The questions raised by the DaphneProject need to be answered. This contract was awarded in a context: secret companies and bank accounts, shady characters from Azerbaijan and a bank which is reported to be involved in laundering Azerbaijani money.”