Prime Minister Robert Abela and Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli inaugurated the Ħas-Saptan National Distribution Centre on Tuesday evening.

Through this project, fuel storage was moved from the heart of Birżebbuġa to Ħas-Saptan.

Prime Minister Abela addressed the event and said that one of the biggest challenges a policy maker in a small country faces is how and where to provide essential services while leaving a minimum negative impact.

He said that the technology exists to modernise the ways services can be provided while reducing such a negative impact. This state-of-the-art facility, he said, is a clear example of this.

Abela said that this government addressed the problem Birzebbuga had, as a result of no longer using the old 31 March facility. "This new facility saw a €70 million investment to eliminate toxic fumes during the transfer of fuel from the tank to the bowser. These emissions are also eliminated during the process when bowsers transfer fuel to fuel pumps," he said.

Abela said that industry remains a main pillar of the economy. "Thousands of families depend on industry and we must protect these jobs. At the same time we must work to reduce the impact on the environment," he added. "We must work with higher and newer standards. While working and improving our economic policy and growing the economy, we must invest more in quality of life, and this is a main aim of this government."

Abela spoke of the environmental improvements seen around the country, adding that more than a third of plastic waste in the country is being recycled. Energy generated from solar panels is the highest it has ever been, he added.

Abela spoke of stopping the use of single use plastics and the rehabilitation and afforestation of various sites around the country.

Abela said that the time has come to an end when the south of Malta is only thought of when there is an industrial project, mentioning the green projects that have been implemented.

Minister Dalli said that this project fulfils the implementation of a vision, resulting in a far more modern, efficient and sustainable infrastructure.

A few months ago, the government shut the 31 March fuel plant in Birzebbuga, she said, which had seen trucks entering the heart of the locality to fill with fuel. "We kept our promise and the fuel operation in the heart of Birzebbuga ended."

In this new plant, she said, trucks are automatically filled for distribution in different localities.

The investment in this operation means more efficiency, she said, adding that a bowser is filled in 20 minutes, unlike 50 minutes in the old station in Birzebbuga. The apparatus in the plant is also of the highest standards, she added.

The new facility has modern leak prevention and detection measures, she added.

Enemed is also studying renewable additives for jet fuel and has the needed infrastructure to start providing this fuel when it is available.

The modernisation of the plant also required fuel stations around the country to update apparatus to be in line with environmental laws, she added.