New sewage treatment plants to cost €91.3m

Financing has already been identified for the sewage treatment plants in Gozo and in the north and discussions are currently underway with financial institutions to identify the financing for the south area treatment plant, the Ministry for Resources and the Infrastructure said yesterday.

The Gozo plant, which is estimated to cost €9 million, will be co-financed by the EU and national funds. The tender document is already in draft form and has been submitted to the Department of Contracts for vetting before it is referred to the EU Commission for approval and eventual publication.

By December, 2005, the new plant will come on line and raw sewage discharges through the outfall at Ras il-Hobz will be discontinued.

The north sewage treatment plant and related infrastructure, which is estimated to cost €12.3 million, is undergoing Environmental Impact Assessment consultation.

This project will be financed under the fifth Italian financial protocol. An invitation for the submission of an expression of interest has been issued in accordance with the procedures laid down in the protocol. This plant will be operational by the end of 2005 and the raw sewage discharges at ic-Cumnija to the north of the island, will eventually be eliminated.

Discussions are planned with financial institutions regarding the financing of the south sewage treatment plant, which is estimated to cost €70 million.

Recently, talks were held between senior officials from the Works Division of the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure and a delegation of the European Investment Bank, about the possibility of loan financing for this project, which is the major component of the Sewerage Master Plan.

In the coming weeks, the EIA in connection with this project is expected to be commissioned following consultations with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

During negotiations with the EU Commission on the Environment Chapter, Malta agreed to be fully compliant with the urban waste water treatment directive by March, 2007.