MHRA: Enemalta must assume responsibility for financial losses due to power cuts

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association referred to an unacceptable series of electricity blackouts experienced across various localities over the past days. MHRA has consistently argued that a country lacking a constant and uninterrupted supply of electricity would be nothing but disadvantaged in terms of an elementary and basic infrastructural need. It would appear less appealing in generating appetite among local and foreign investors in placing their fortunes in Malta. It would certainly not project the image Malta deserves.

In this context, MHRA is calling out to Enemalta to shoulder responsibility for failing to provide an uninterrupted electricity supply especially when one considers the extent of investment made over the past decade to ensure that our country is equipped with the appropriate energy generation infrastructure.

MHRA understands that technical faults, which are beyond reasonable control do occasionally happen, but cannot understand how nation-wide blackouts have been happening repeatedly over the past weeks.

In addition to the inconveniences caused for many, such energy interruptions happened during the festive season thus causing huge financial losses to hotels and restaurants, among others.

Towards this end, MHRA president Tony Zahra has called upon the MCESD chairman John Bencini to convene a meeting with Enemalta directors and the social partners for Enemalta to explain clearly what is happening and more significantly to provide assurances on what form of corrective action Enemalta will be taking to make up for not fulfilling its role, as sole energy supplier, to the expected best standard.

Zahra asserts that: “We are important customers of Enemalta and cannot be treated with this disdain. Our members are suffering real financial losses and we are holding Enemalta responsible for these losses.”