The decision regarding the installation of a bulky LPG gas tank to fuel “eternal flames” on the victims of war memorial monument in Victoria Gozo will be taken next Tuesday, despite residents’ complaints about the idea.

The installation has been recommended for approval. Residents are worried about the potential danger such a tank, close to homes, could pose.

According to the proposal, the buried LPG tank will have a capacity of 3000ltrs. The proposed tank would be located just beneath the ravelin and adjacent to the wall of the small parking area in front of the obelisk located at Castle Hill.

The pipe work route shall be passed through Triq it-Telgha tal-Belt, cross Triq Sir Adrian Dingli and below the surface of Independence Square.

PN MP Chris Said had in fact submitted a Parliamentary Question regarding this issue, questioning why government wanted to place the gas tank in the heart of a residential area and whether the residents themselves were consulted.

In response, Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo said that the Mepa application was being processed and that the application was to install a gas storage tank and lay down a pipe system in order to light up two flames in front of the monument to war victims in Independence Square, and another flame in front of the monument remembering the invasion of Gozo in 1551. 

Last December, a number of residents had gone as far as filing a judicial protest on the issue, arguing that the application would allow the construction of an industrial size tank. They objected to the application, stating that it goes against Mepa’s own policies, as well as the tank being earmarked for installation within a residential zone “which is a threat to residents”. The tank was originally proposed to hold 9000ltrs, but was later reduced.

The proposed tank will be buried underground with a 1.2 metres dispersion and 2.05 metres high warning signage as required by the Codes of Practice. Pipes shall be laid on a 75mm thick, well prepared bed of sand or adequate material. Trenching cover shall not be less than 600mm from the pipe under roadways, otherwise the pipe has to be protected against damage by laying concrete slabs 150mm above the pipe.

A minimum clearance of 250mm shall be maintained between the LPG pipes and other services such as electrical cables and water pipes. The LPG pipe work shall not be passed through a same trench containing electrical cables

Victoria Mayor Samuel Azzopardi had earlier said that the council shot down the idea of the tank being installed in Independence Square as it could damage archaeological remains.