Development on the former March 31 fuel depot in Birzebbuga can only take place after the site is decontaminated, former Enemalta chairman Robert Ghirlando has cautioned. He  said the tanks would not only have to be dismantled but the land below them studied for any oil deposits from leakage.

The site was proposed by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil as an alternative location to Żonqor Point in Marsascala where a Jordanian investor wants to build a university campus – the American University of Malta – on virgin land.

The Birżebbuġa proposal was shot down by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat saying it could only be ready in two years, creating a timing obstacle for the investors. 

Prof. Ghirlando recalled a case when somebody living in the vicinity of the site had found oil when digging up the foundations of his house. Seepage had caused oil pockets to form in the rocks and an exercise known as bioslurping – an operation to suck oil up through boreholes – had to take place.

“Enemalta collected the oil and used it again,” Prof. Ghirlando said, adding the land would have to be studied and cleaned from any oil that could have seeped into the ground. This process would only be possible after the tanks were aerated to ensure no gases were present.

“The time it takes to decontaminate the site would depend on the ground test results once the surface tanks are removed.”  

Dr Muscat said on Sunday the government would consider alternative sites to Zonqor, possibly splitting the proposed campus over two sites, although that is not what the investors would like. 

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