[WATCH] Birżebbuġa set for €40 million facelift with San Luċjan regeneration

San Luċjan oiltanking facility to be replaced with €40 million Siċċa urban regeneration project

A €40 million investment will the area in Birżebbuġa will be doing away with the oil tanking facilities
A €40 million investment will the area in Birżebbuġa will be doing away with the oil tanking facilities
Birżebbuġa set for €40 million facelift with San Luċjan regeneration

A €40 million investment will transform the San Luċjan oiltanking facility in Birżebbuġa into a space for families, research and investment.

Energy and Sustainability Minister Miriam Dalli announced the project in a press conference on Tuesday, saying the zone would be regenerated into a recreational zone for families, serving also as an attraction for investment into new economic niches.

The project has been labelled ‘Is-Siċċa’ (cuttlefish) and will cover an 18,000 square metre area. It will also serve as a hub, for research and innovation for new industries such as aquaculture, the blue economy and the circular economy.

50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces
50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces

The project was designed by the internationally renowned architectural company Pininfarina, with a design that not only complements the surrounding natural environment but uses natural measures for a better climate condition in the building. In fact, the project will make use of innovative technology to reach the target of up to 70% of renewable energy use and energy efficient systems.

“Is-Siċċa is a project that will not only eliminate a polluting industry site, from the south of Malta, but it is an innovative project that will be meeting the goals of sustainability: a project that will be generating economic activity of quality, with a positive impact on the environment but above all for the surrounding society,” Dalli said.

50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces
50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces

Giovanni de Niederhausern, Pininfarina vice-president architecture section, said the three main pillars of the project were the green transition, innovation and urban regeneration.

From an economic point of view, Cuttlefish will offer open spaces for start-ups with various services and resources for entrepreneurs in the field of sustainability and innovation, incubation centres for green industry and spaces allocated for educational facilities.

Seven per cent of the area will be allocated to industry and manufacturing, whilst 50% will be space allocated for recreational use and public spaces.

50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces
50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces

“The main focus of this project is to provide a better quality of life for residents. We will be giving back this beach while creating open spaces for cultural and social activities in order to improve mental health and quality of life,” Dalli said.

Dalli explained how in March 2021, the administrative and regulatory process was initiated with the competent authorities to stop the use of the site for the storage of heavy fuel oil.

50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces
50% of area will be allocated to recreation and public spaces

She added that discussions were held with the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), on a method statement, so that it was agreed how the tanks would be dismantled in order to prepare the land for this project. “We want this project to be a clear example of how sustainable development should be done. We want is-Siċċa to be a catalyst, leading by example to drive more sustainable development of this kind,” Dalli said.