Tranter – My connections with SunRay and Vassallo Builders
I am writing in reference to last Sunday’s edition of Malta Today and in particular to the articles entitled ‘Enemalta Chief denies resignation linked to €25m solar project’, the editorial and the opinion page by Saviour Balzan entitled ‘Tranterism at its best’. In the said articles your newspaper went into great lengths and detail to pounce upon certain links and connections I have, together with certain timings of events.
Such an unwarranted attack upon my integrity is completely unacceptable and requires an immediate factual response from me. The facts are as follows:
1. I was not forced to resign by Government. On the contrary I offered my resignation to Tonio Fenech, the Minister of Finance, Enterprise and Investment, because I have accepted an offer to take up a senior management position with a company abroad and will be therefore working away from the island. In fact the Minister kindly asked me to continue to serve as Chairman, until a suitable replacement is appointed, a request I have gladly told the Minister I will accept.
2. I have no and have never had any interest in or connection with the preparation and compilation of the Expression of Interest for the Installation of Photovoltaic Panels on Government Buildings, which was issued by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, a completely separate Ministry to the one Enemalta Corporation is, and was connected to.
3. I was aware of SunPower Corporation’s interest in responding to this Expression of Interest through my business connection with SunRay Renewable Energy. Nonetheless I was not in any manner involved in the submission of the Expression of Interest by Vassallo Builders Group Ltd., of which I am not a Director and have no direct interest or shareholding.
4. My non-executive directorship of SunRay Renewable Energy was not in conflict with my Chairmanship of Enemalta since the former’s line of business, in the development of photovoltaic parks in Spain, France, Italy, the UK, Greece and Israel, does not involve Malta. Furthermore, I am not a shareholder in any of the companies within the SunRay Renewable Energy group of companies. I also informed the Minister at the time responsible for Enemalta that I would be accepting this post.
5. In my position as Chairman of Enemalta Corporation, I have had no discussions at any time with TERNA, the Italian Grid Operator, on behalf of Sunray Renewable Energy. The only discussions I have spearheaded in the past with TERNA were solely as Chairman of Enemalta, and only in relation to the initial strategic discussions on the lnterconnector project between Malta and Sicily.
6. I have no conflict of interest related to the extension of the Delimara Power Station and I have not participated or involved myself in any discussions or decisions relating to this tender. My position was made very clear back in 2008 when I learned that Vassallo Builders Ltd, was included in a list of potential subcontractors that BWSC could use for civil works. For the record I am not a Director and have no shareholding in Vassallo Builders Ltd, although this company does form part of the same Group of Companies I work for. When I became aware of this involvement I immediately informed the Minister responsible at the time for Enemalta and the Enemalta Board of Directors of this situation and for the sake of good order abstained from any involvement, connection or participation whatsoever in the selection process for the new extension of the Delimara Power Station, let alone the choice of subcontractor for civil works for this tender.
7. My involvement as Chairman of Enemalta Corporation in the alternative energy field has been limited to the spearheading of three pilot projects installed at three different Enemalta Distribution Centres (i.e., two photovoltaic roof top installations at the Kappara and Qawra District Offices and one micro wind turbine at the Vendome Distribution Centre). I repeat what I have already stated in 4), that SunRay Renewable Energy had no connection whatsoever with these internal Enemalta projects as they have never, ever had any connection with Malta in this area; I also want to state that I have at no time acted or doubled up as a consultant to the Government specifically on the installation of solar panels.
8. I am now resigning from Enemalta to take up employment abroad. I am not concerned with any expression of interest that has been made to the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs. There is absolutely nothing suspect with the timing of my resignation.
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