The government wants a new design for the Cirkewwa terminal that would cost less than what had been proposed in the previous three, the Infrastructure Ministry said.
Referring to a statement by Opposition spokesman Charles Buhagiar yesterday, the ministry said that for this, it was being criticised by the Opposition.
The ministry said it was not true that EU funds were being lost. The funds were already allocated to Malta by the EU and the government had to decide how to use them.
Mr Buhagiar, the ministry said, was mixing the Cirkewwa quay project, which had been completed years ago, with the Cirkewwa and Mgarr terminal projects. The latter was finished and had been in use for more than a year.
The ports project, the ministry said, was divided into four phases - dredging works and other works at sea in Cirkewwa to allow the building of the new quays, the reclamation of land and the building of the new quays together with the breakwater extension, work on the quay and the building of a new terminal at Mgarr and the building of a new terminal at Cirkewwa.
The opposition’s statement, the ministry said, failed to note that the first three phases were compete and transport between the two islands was already enjoying a leap in quality. In fact, it was very rare that trips were cancelled because the vessels could not berth.
Gozo also had a new terminal.
With EU membership, the ministry said, the government took the opportunity to improve plans for the Cirkewwa terminal with the assistance of EU funds. The latest estimates for the project were that this was to cost €15.5 million.
The ministry requested a design for a project which would cost less while serving the same or improved functions.
The new Cirkewwa terminal would be built and this would complement the new Mgarr terminal, it promised.
The ministy said that the Maritime Authority, together with the Gozo Channel as the operator, was to set up a temporary structure in Cirkewwa at a place where it would not hinder the terminal’s development.
The government was committed to continue working to conclude the project and develop a maritime industry.