Government to start negotiations with consortia on two of three components

by Ivan Brincat

The government is expected to enter into negotiations with those consortia indicated by the Adjudication Committee on two of the three components identified in the call for proposals for the elimination of the landfill in Maghtab.
Environment Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told The Malta Business Weekly the government had been advised that it can proceed and begin discussions on two of three components.
The first two components of the call for proposals are the closure of Maghtab and the disposal of construction and demolition waste and the remaining waste.
Last month The Malta Independent on
Sunday had quoted Michael Betts, the foreign consultant to government on waste management strategy as saying that reopening the call for tenders was an option. “It is common knowledge that the call for proposals did not draw a good response from international waste management companies. I think there are a variety of reasons for that but I think the main one is that it still was not clear exactly what government was looking for and so it made it very difficult for potential bidders to assess what would be needed and what was expected.
“So obviously, we are coming to a final conclusion now on the strategy which should help to put into much clearer focus what is going to be needed here in Malta,” Mr Betts said.
Dr Zammit Dimech said that there was no reason for the full tender to be withdrawn and reopened.
“It is only in the third component, that is for the rehabilitation of the Maghtab landfill and Kortin that we might have to come up with a new call for tenders,” Dr Zammit Dimech said.
The minister said that there had been sufficient interest for the first two components to enter into discussions with the companies indicated by the Adjudication Committee.
In all, there had been eight proposals for the development and operation of an integrated system for the receipt, management, treatment, processing and disposal of solid waste in Malta and Gozo.
The offers had been received from Malta III Millennio, SITA, Polidano Waste Ltd and Idroedil SRL, Globex Team Joint Venture, San Marco Consortium, Teknologia Ambient Ltd, Galva Spa and Coopcostruttori Scarl, C & D Waste Consortium and Polidano Brothers Ltd and Staedtereinigung West Nolting GMBH and Co KG.
The rumours that a new call for tenders for Maghtab might be issued has irked some of the companies that submitted proposals. Sources close to one consortium told The Malta Business Weekly that once the proposals were opened, these could now be copied by other interested consortia. “We are frustrated and furious because the goalposts have been shifted,” the sources said.
However, Dr Zammit Dimech said more studies on the rehabilitation of Maghtab had to be carried out. “The consultants have been asked to draw the detailed specifications
and the necessary contracts so that the
government can proceed on the first two components.”
Moreover, the government will also proceed with an exercise to acquire a scientific profile of Maghtab. “The third component goes beyond the closure of Maghtab,” Dr Zammit Dimech said.
In effect, Maghtab could be closed if other alternatives are found, or landfills identified, but what to do with the ever growing mountain of waste, remains a major concern.
Dr Zammit Dimech said their were various options. These include the landscaping of Maghtab and planting of greenery. Other options include the removal of the waste and shifting it to the sea for land reclamation. Another option is to clean up the area and create new leisure and tourism activities.
“To do this, we must first decide on a location to dispose of the construction and demolition waste and what to do with the remaining waste,” the minister said.
The government is working at full speed with its consultants to try and solve the problem which has been growing over the past years.
Dr Zammit Dimech said EU membership was a further incentive for the country to improve Malta’s environment. “Moreover, after membership it would be possible to receive funds for parts of the investment required,” he said.
Originally, proposals for Maghtab were believed to include the development of an artificial lake surrounded by villas and resorts just off the Maghtab landfill. Other proposals included the building of
towers.
Another proposal was the development of a sports complex instead of the Maghtab landfill as well as the development of a breakwater at sea for yachts.