WasteServ seeks renewal of Magħtab incinerator permit

WasteServ has applied to renew the outline planning permission for a waste-to-energy plant at the Magħtab landfill, as the original permit approaches expiry on 26 January 2027.

Application PA/07858/26 was submitted on 20 August by WasteServ, represented by Richard Bilocca, with architect Robert Sant. The original outline permission was granted on 13 January 2022.

The renewal application is scheduled for publication on 18 November, with representations open until 18 December 2026.

The renewal comes amid uncertainty over the €600 million project, a key component of the government's ECOHIVE strategy.

As reported by MaltaToday last month, the government has yet to set a date for a new tender after the original procurement process collapsed in December 2025 following a dispute involving preferred bidder French company Paprec and rival Hitachi Zosen Inova.

Meanwhile, WasteServ has issued a tender for excavation works aimed at increasing the capacity of an existing engineered landfill at Magħtab by more than 2.9 million cubic metres. The project involves deepening an existing landfill from 10 to 54 metres.

In reply to MaltaToday, the Environment Ministry also pointed to increased waste separation, recycling and reuse as measures to reduce pressure on landfills. These include the collection of 242 million beverage containers through the refund scheme in 2025 and a new organic waste processing plant intended to double Malta's treatment capacity.

The ministry has maintained that existing landfill capacity is sufficient for the years ahead, until the ECOHIVE strategy is fully implemented.