Only 100 days after the final agreements between the government and Tecom Investments were signed, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is expected to decide on the first major step in the development of SmartCity Malta in Ricasoli this week. In fact, on Thursday, MEPA is to deliberate on an application originally submitted by the government to demolish the factories and clear the site in the Ricasoli Industrial Estate.

This rapid turn-around of such a massive operation contrasts with the way in which these major projects are usually handled, where bureaucracy and dragging one’s feet is the order of the day.

When contacted by The Malta Independent on Sunday, a spokesman for the Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology said that a key element of the rate of progress on this component is that the ministry had started the planning process for the demolition of the existing factories in 2006.

This ensured that while the parties were still discussing the terms of the agreement, the actual time to break ground was not being impacted. In fact, the ministry submitted two applications to MEPA last year for a permit for the said demolition. Industry sources claim that this wise move could be considered to have reduced the period leading to the commencement of work by some nine months.

Asked specifically who will bear the costs of the demolition and excavation, the ministry spokesperson that the contract clearly stipulates that all responsibility and costs related to these works shall be borne by the company.

The application consists of a request to MEPA to demolish all the existing factories (except one which is intended to serve as a temporary site office for the developers). The application also includes the request for the construction of a temporary jetty to serve as a transfer station where dump trucks will be able to transfer waste onto barges for eventual dumping at sea in line with the applicable rules and regulations.

It is interesting to note that, as Minister Gatt had confirmed in Parliament, no short-circuiting or fast-tracking has been used on this process and the developers went through all the processes any other developer would have to go through. The Malta Independent on Sunday is also informed that MEPA has started the consultation process for the Environmental Impact Assessment for the full development, wherein the key stakeholders (including local councils and NGOs) were consulted on the draft terms of reference of this EIA.

In view of the inevitable complications that such applications bring with them, The Malta Independent on Sunday requested the ministry spokesperson’s views on the approach being employed by MEPA. He commented that “the Major Projects arm of MEPA has been extremely effective. MEPA’s clear guidance and expertise in the handling of these projects is proving to be an asset to maintain the momentum of the project.”

He added that while the developers have invested significant sums of money for the engagement of sectoral construction and environmental experts, one cannot but commend MEPA’s professional and no-nonsense approach to the project.”

In a parallel development indicating the fast pace with which the project is moving ahead, in a recent parliamentary question, Minister Austin Gatt informed Parliament that the promised initial investment by Tecom Investments in SmartCity Malta Ltd has been made. In fact, Tecom Investments injected $20 million into the company and granted government the ordinary and special shares as agreed to in the contracts. Dr Gatt also laid copies of the MFSA share certificates granting title to the shares to the Government of Malta on the table of the House.