Key policy question: What is the trend with respect to area covered by operational quarries?

Limestone is Malta's principal non-renewable mineral resource. Mineral extraction has a significant impact on the environment since quarries are a source of noise, vibration and dust pollution, and are of significant concern in scenic areas due to their negative effect on the landscape.

While in 2007, 0.76 per cent of Malta's land area was covered by quarries, in 2008 this rose to 0.81 per cent, an increase of 0.016 square kilometres, such that total quarried area amounted to 2.54 square kilometres in 2008.

The number of hardstone1 (including lime kilns) and softstone2 quarries did not change from 2007, remaining 28 and 60 respectively. Since 2003, construction and demolition waste has been disposed of in various licensed or otherwise disused quarries, facilitating rehabilitation of these quarries and deviating considerable amounts of waste from landfill.

Policy responses: Mepa has declared a moratorium on new quarries and established policies that address the rehabilitation of spent quarries. The authority also published a draft Minerals Subject Plan and has over the past years approved a number of projects that sought planning permission to rehabilitate quarries to various different uses. The Environment Report seeks to increase awareness and understanding of key environmental issues and trends, to provide a sound evidence base for policy and decision-making, and to facilitate the measurement of environmental performance and progress towards sustainability.

For more information visit www.mepa.org.mt/ter

References

1 Lower and Upper Coralline Limestone.

2 Globigerina Limestone.