The fuel depot in Birzebbuga is to be shut down as part of a project to regenerate the south, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said this morning.

Speaking during one of the series of post-Budget meetings organised by the individual ministries as part of the 'Government that listens' campaign, the minister said oil products currently stored there would be moved to other facilities owned by Enemalta.

Dr Mizzi said PN governments had promised to close down the facility but failed to deliver. The government was currently finalising plans and studies and consultation with the planning authority was underway.

The plans involved the change of use of existing underground storage tanks at Has Saptan. These tanks were currently leased to third parties for overseas use on short-term contracts.

They would be refurbished and upgraded with modern safety features and used to store Enemed products. The project would utilise existing infrastructure and would not create environmental issues. While Enemed would lose revenue currently derived from Has Saptan, the change of use would enable the closure of the site, he said.

Enemed is the company established to manage the Enemalta’s former Petroleum Division. It is also studying the need to upgrade aviation fuel storage facilities at the airport.