Mizzi optimistic on oil exploration - shocked how data was stored in garage

Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi said this morning that he was shocked this week to learn that documents on oil exploration data as well as samples were stacked in a disorganised manner in a garage. Speaking in a One TV interview he said collection of this data had cost millions and this discovery was one of the biggest shocks of his life. He said the Oil Exploration Division was in a state of ‘disaster’. Mr Mizzi reiterated that oil companies were showing strong interest in exploration, enough, he said, to cover all the acreage available to Malta. A company would spud an exploratory well early next year in terms of an agreement with the former government which has been clarified. Talks are in progress on the drilling of a second well, he said. The tests so far showed very strong possibilities that such raw material could be found in Maltese territory and he was optimistic, the minister said. He said Malta would consider joint exploration in areas contested by different countries but it would stand its ground where it was very clear that territory belonged to it.