Power station call issued - Government uses exemptions to EU procurement rules

The Government and Enemalta today issued an international call for expressions of interest for a long-term Power Purchase Agreement and a Gas Supply Agreement. The agreements are key to the Government's electoral pledge to convert power generation at the power station to gas, and to reduce electricity tariffs to households by a quarter from next year. Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi stressed that the Government wants clean, lower-cost electricity to be sourced from new investors in liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage, re-gasification and natural gas supply infrastructure. Although no formal call for tender will be issued, the Government would be following EU rules, including exemptions provided by procurement rules. The Department of Contracts will not be involved in the selection process since this is not a call for tenders. Potential investors will first be pre-qualified and then will be invited to bid competitively to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement and/or a Gas Supply Agreement with a pre-condition to build, own and operate their gas and power plants at Enemalta’s Delimara site to be fully commissioned by spring 2015. The new energy supplier will be required to supply some...