Nov 24 - Spark Says Government Has Not Paid For Electricity Generation For Five Months Out Of “Vindictiveness”
Spark Energy Limited, the company providing temporary generators at the North Mole, has said that the Government of Gibraltar has failed to pay for the generation of electricity produced at both Spark Power stations for the past five months.
The company says that this comes after comments made by the Chief Minister that Spark had ordered a safety study of the LNG installation from Lloyd’s Register and also where he alleged that Spark “had deliberately caused power outages.” In total, the company claims that the Government has failed to pay approximately £3.2 million.
A statement from the company continued: “Spark categorically denied at the time any allegation(s) that it had caused (intentionally or otherwise) any of the power outages that the Chief Minister referred to. Although the Government promised an investigation, and were indeed invited by Spark to do so, no results or evidence has ever been provided to Spark or otherwise published. Our proposal to allow independent experts to analyse both Spark power stations and Gibraltar electrical facilities as a whole in order to find the real reason of the power cuts has been ignored.
“Spark is shocked by the unlawful and disgraceful behaviour by this Government that constitutes an obvious attempt to remove Spark. While Government has alleged that our power stations are unreliable they have continued to use our power stations effectively free of charge. Their obsession with vindictiveness and revenge against Spark for releasing the Lloyd’s Report about the LNG installation is obvious. As a justification for not paying Spark, Government are now saying that Spark owes approximately £15 million to Government. Spark feels that this is yet another ploy to avoid paying us.
“Should the current issue not be resolved within a week, Spark Energy will have no other option but to consider termination its contract with Government and commence proceedings against it for the full extent of contract.”
A full Government response is here: http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/politics/10624-nov-24-government-rejects-spark-statement-as-riddled-with-inaccuracies-and-untruths
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