Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said today that Malta's talks with Qatar are focused on gas purchases which would enable Malta to convert the power station to operate on gas.

He said that investment by Qatar in Enemalta was not under discussion. The government of Qatar was, however, considering the possibility of setting up a gas terminal in Malta, like the terminals which Qatar already has near Venice and in Belgium.

Mr Fenech said on TVAM that it had always been the government's long term strategy to use gas for the power station, but this needed an infrastructure and long-term agreements with source countries such as Qatar, the third biggest gas exporter in the world.

At the same time, Qatar was considering ways to raise its gas exports to Europe and Europe was keen to reduce its dependence on gas from Russia. 

Mr Fenech stressed that possible collaboration on a gas terminal did not mean privatisation of Enemalta.

Gas terminals convert liquid into gas for use in facilities such as power stations.