Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this week visited the new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sea importation terminal, storage and bottling facility being built by Gasco Energy Ltd at Bengħajsa. The €20 million investment by Gasco Energy Ltd, a joint venture between Multigas Ltd and Liquigas Italia SpA, will be operational by the end of this month.
Through this investment, Gasco Energy Ltd will double its current capacity for LPG storage in Malta from 2,300 tons to 4,800 tons and will therefore be well able to meet the present and future requirements of the Maltese market.
Dr Gonzi, who was accompanied by Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino, was introduced by Gasco Energy chairman Louis A Farrugia and CEO Roberto Capelluto to the board of directors representing Maltese and Italian shareholders.
Dr Gonzi was shown around the new facility which includes six new LPG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 800 tons of LPG. Each storage tank is 42 metres long and has a diameter of 7.5metres and they are covered with sand to increase the safety of the installation.
The project comprises a pipeline from the sea importation terminal to the storage tanks, an automatic cylinder-filling facility, a road tanker filling point to deliver bulk LPG to Liquigas’ clients and an administration building. The facility is also equipped with the latest technology for fire detection and fire fighting.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said: “This €20 million investment by Gasco Energy embodies my government’s vision and strategy for Malta. The investment is a result of our privatisation efforts and has created new employment opportunities for Maltese workers both during the construction of the facility and now once it commences operations.
“This new facility will allow Malta to benefit from new services such as the Auto Liquigas, and air-conditioning using LPG, both contributing to a better environment. Our economic strategy to allow the private sector to invest in our economy is also an investment in our environment and in our health.”
Roberto Capelluto, CEO of Gasco Energy, a sister company of Liquigas Malta Ltd, said: “The Bengħajsa facility is being constructed according to the highest international standards to ensure a consistently reliable, safe and environmentally-friendly supply of LPG in Malta. It fully respects the stringent EU criteria as established in the Seveso II Directives.
“The usage of LPG in Malta will increase due to its advantage of being a cleaner and more efficient fuel. Furthermore, at the new Bengħajsa facility, the company will be maximising the efficiency of gas bottling and storage operations through the application of modern technology and efficient work practices, while ensuring that appropriate quality, environmental and health standards are maintained at all times.”
Following the commissioning of the new facility, the old Qajjenza plant will be closed down, thus eliminating any risk it currently poses due to its age and present location.