The Birzebbuga fuel depot will be closed down and oil products currently stored there will be moved to other facilities, Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi said today.

Dr Mizzi said that storage tanks are bang in the middle of a residential area, which brings about many health risks.

Instead of building new tanks, other facilities owned by Enemed will be used, he said.

The government is currently finalising plans and studies on the matter and consultation with MEPA is under way for the closure of the depot.

The plans involve the change of use of existing underground storage tanks at Has Saptan.

These tanks are currently leased to third parties for overseas use on short-term contracts.

The tanks will be refurbished and upgraded with modern safety features and will be used to store Enemed products.

Dr Mizzi said that while Enemed will lose revenue from the storage contracts at Has Saptan, one cannot put a price on peoples’ health.