Harry S. Truman, the 33rd US President, had famously said ‘if you can’t convince them, confuse them’. And the first week of the electoral campaign has been characterised by epically contradictory statements from PN quarters, on vital sectors, including that of the energy market.

Firstly when the electorate was reminded that for the PN leader energy subsidies are a short lived instrument, Borg and the PN section that supports him came out in full force to label the statement as a lie. This left many bewildered as he is on record a number of occasions saying precisely those words without even being prompted to.

After this denial the other PN leader Adrian Delia put it black on white that for the PN every euro invested on subsidies is a euro that could have been spent elsewhere. He then proceeded in a tirade of strongly worded statements rubbishing the subsidies that have virtually de-risked the Maltese economy through multiple and unprecedented international crises, and that have allowed the Maltese to prosper.

Now, the same Party that until a few days ago said that the current subsidies are not sustainable and they are giving the island a false sense of security, through its official leader, committed to reduce energy tariffs by further 30%.

It well seems that Adrian Deli and Alex Borg have been unleashed in a tit for tat exercise with PN strategist only hope now is that the confusion that is being generated distracts the electorate from its ailing campaign that appears to be void of any seriously thought ideas.

This is unbelievably childish. This is not the Opposition Malta deserves. The Opposition has very serious constitutional duties to fulfill, and sowing confusion systematically is definitely not one of them.

Malta needs stability. The Labour Party approach is clear, the energy and fuel prices that have been stable since 2013, will remain the same. This in addition to continued and robust investment in infrastructure to guarantee security of supply and a healthy energy mix.

In recent years, the government started a major programme to upgrade Malta’s and Gozo’s electricity network so it is stronger, smarter, and more reliable. One of the key projects has been the installation of modern underground electricity cables that allow power to be rerouted quickly if there is a fault. This means that if something goes wrong, electricity can be restored faster with much less disruption to people’s daily lives. These upgrades focus mainly on medium‑voltage systems (33 kV and 11 kV) and were prioritised in areas that experienced the most problems. At the same time, older neighbourhood networks were improved, and around 60 new substations are being added every year to keep up with growing demand.

To make the system even smarter, the government has also invested in automation technology across many substations in Malta and Gozo. Thanks to this, engineers can now control and redirect electricity remotely from a central control room, without having to travel on site. This has dramatically reduced power cuts, as electricity can often be restored within minutes. So far, these improvements have involved investments of around €140 million, supported by both local and European funding.

Looking ahead, the government has launched a nine‑year national plan to modernise how electricity is distributed. This includes building 15 new distribution centres and installing a high‑voltage (132 kV) submarine electricity connection between Malta and Gozo. This new link will make Gozo’s power supply more stable and resilient compared to the older system. Altogether, these long‑term projects are expected to involve investments of about €300 million.

Several new and upgraded distribution centres are also being brought online, including facilities in Naxxar, Siġġiewi, Msida, Mosta, and St Andrew’s, some of which are already operational. Work has also started on the Malta–Gozo interconnection, with major equipment being prepared and studies underway to decide the safest route for the undersea cable.

One of the most important upcoming projects is a new high‑voltage distribution centre near Malta International Airport. This will allow strong 132 kV power to reach the south of Malta and will support future‑focused initiatives such as electric aircraft infrastructure and shore‑to‑ship power for ports. These investments are a key part of the government’s push towards a cleaner, more efficient, and future‑ready energy system.

Works are also advancing decisively on the construction of the second interconnector with Sicily, and a third one, that will operate at a different voltage to give more flexibility, is also being planned.

Energy produced by means of renewable sources is at record highs and continues to increase month on month. Our power plants are run with the cleanest available fuel, and the island has a healthy energy generation mix that offers the required stability even in one off occasions such as the recent Storm Harry.

The energy sector is a vital one. It cannot be left at the whims of some irresponsible politician that changes his mind literally every two days. Malta’s economy has now been built on stability. The stability we have become accustomed to is the result of years of extremely hard work and robust policy frameworks. To dismantle it, it will take days.

The PN’s energy policy is more confused than a chameleon in a bag of Skittles. The last time the PN was in power it proudly enacted Malta’s most expensive energy bills, with a neglected infrastructure setup that was run with the dirtiest available fuel. The PN now seems to be exploring an alternative route to the same dead end. Do not be part of it.