Last Updated on Friday, 23 October, 2020 at 7:07 pm by Andre Camilleri
Malta a step closer to move away from decades of predominant reliance on landfilling to green energy generation
FCCMA-Hitachi JV Malta, Urbaser-Terna and Consortium Suez – Tecnimont – Termomeccanica are the three shortlisted bidders of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for WasteServ’s Waste to Energy Plant. As soon as the appeals period is concluded, the shortlisted bidders will be invited to the next procurement stage, the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD), following which they will be asked to bid in the final competitive tender document.
WasteServ would like to show its appreciation to all economic operators who have showed interest and participated in this procurement process which has attracted very strong bids. The three best scoring bidders hold impressive portfolios. The scoring exercise was based on pre-established quantifiable criteria that related to the bidders’ financial and economic standing, experience, and competence for the completion of this project. The shortlisted groups carry very strong financial and technical muscle and have vast experience in Waste to Energy Plants. This gives Malta additional certainty that the project will be delivered impeccably and to standards that are second to none.
The Waste to Energy Plant will provide an essential environmental service as it will convert waste that would otherwise go to the landfill into green energy. Therefore, this plant will convert wastes that cannot be recycled into precious resources adding an impressive 4.5% as green energy to Malta’s total energy demand.
The waste management credentials of the plant are strong by themselves, however they need to be seen as part of a holistic strategy that is being implemented at the ECOHIVE Complex. A new recycling plant and an organic processing plant are currently in design stage and tenders for the excavation of a new engineered landfill and for the studies for a new Clinical Waste plant are currently on the market. Moreover, a market consultation for a fixed green transportation system for wastes within the complex is also open and runs until early January 2021. More details on current procurement processes can be obtained from ecohive.com.mt.
WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca thanked the teams that have worked relentlessly towards these goals hand in hand with officials from the Department of Contracts, whilst at the same time ensuring that the best solutions towards a circular economy were being attained. The planned investments, the largest in Malta’s history, will finally put Malta at the forefront of waste management and will also bring considerable environmental benefits, especially to the residents and commercial activities around Magħtab area.
The Waste to Energy contract will include the design and construction of the facility; estimated in the region of €160 to €190 million, and its commissioning and operation for a period of 20 years with a further financial outlay of €200 million. The plant is expected to commence operations in approximately three years’ time.
This infrastructural overhaul will also be supported with a new waste management strategy that the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning will soon announce, with concrete measures that start at the prevention of waste, its potential reuse, separation, and recycling.
