As Minister responsible for water management in Malta and its sister island, I was delighted this week to announce that after given the green light from the Planning Authority in September, and after the awarding of the tender for the development of a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis plant in Gozo, works will start as soon as possible, after the required contracts were signed this week.
The €11 million project forms part of a wide range of EU funded projects that will substantially increase the quality of tap water, reduce carbon emissions, increase efficiencies and safeguard Malta’s ground ater resources.
In fact, throught this investment, the water supply in Gozo will be second to none, in terms of quality; security; efficiency; and sustainability. From day one upon completion, Gozitans, and the increasing number of visitors to the Island of Gozo will start benefiting from an improved service.
In view of this, I would like to thank the Water Services Corporation, especially the Gozo employees, for its sterling work in delivering the preparatory stages of this large project and within the shortest possible timeframes.
The new Reverse Osmosis plant will have the capacity to produce up to 9,000 cubic metres of fresh high quality water per day and ensure self-suffiency in water production for the island.The plant reaches impressive efficiency levels using just 3.1kwhr per meter cubed produced at a production cost of around €0.40c.
The plant will be installed at Ħondoq on the site of the former sea-water distillation plant built in the 1960s.
The Gozo Reverse osmosis has been awarded to AST-Clean Water Technologies. AST has a worldwide presence with headquarters in Israel.It worked on projects in Europe, China, the USA, South America, Africa and elsewhere. Its solutions are also supported by multinational cooperation of R&D centers based in Israel, Europe and the USA.
This investment will surely render the sister island completely self-sufficient in the provision of water and will also be able to supply water to Malta if this is necessary.
The investment will offer the island of Gozo a secure supply, drastically improve the quality of water, while ensuring the sustainability of the island’s water table.
This project is a gem in itself and will not only include the best technologies abvailable but will also reach the highest environmental standards.
This project will be coordinated by the Water Services Corporation and will be co-financed through EU Cohesion fundsrepresents an unprecedented investment in the quality and security of potable water supply for the Island of Gozo.
Joe Mizzi is Minister for Energy and Water Management