Malta Industrial Parks – a government-owned company – is “in principle” against the siting of waste treatment or recycling plants in its industrial estates.
This was the main reason why a location described by a MEPA manager in 2004 “as more strategically located” had been discarded as an alternative to the Sant’ Antnin Marsaskala site.
The MEPA manager’s reference to the Hal Far site was one of the findings in the Audit Office report divulged by AD candidate Carmel Caccopardo last week.
Asked by MaltaToday whether MEPA had ever approached MIP on the availability of the Hal Far, MEPA’s PRO Peter Gingell revealed that the government-owned Malta Industrial Parks is in principle opposed to the siting of recycling plants on industrial land.
“MIP has in principle adopted an unfavourable consideration to the use of industrial land under their management for the siting of waste management facilities. This will conflict with the current strategic plan of their industrial parks. This is particularly true of Hal-Far where most of the Pharma industry is sited,” Gingell told MaltaToday.
But Gingell would not confirm whether a specific request was ever made by MEPA to explore the Hal Far option with Malta Industrial Parks.
According to MEPA any application that falls within the jurisdiction of MIP are vetted by that Agency.
MEPA still refuses to divulge the exact location of the Hal Far site and the name of its current operator.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt