Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1443447
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JANUARY 2022 NEWS Shanghai Electric hints at plans for Marsa power station site JAMES DEBONO CHINESE principals from the company that owns the Mar- sa power station have alluded to development plans for the decommissioned energy plant and its nearby docks. Xia Meixing, deputy head of Shanghai Electric Power, cited various options being consid- ered in the redevelopment of the Marsa power station in an interview with Shine, a Shang- hai online news site, in a com- memoration of the 50th anni- versary of diplomatic relations between Malta and China. Among the "many alterna- tives" for the transformation of the old plant, Meixing men- tioned a "commercial centre, high-end residential buildings and public facilities like a mu- seum or an art gallery". The 32,000sq.m plot of land occupied by the former power station was leased to Enemal- ta plc for 99 years for €65,000 a year in August 2014, after a 33% shareholding acquisition by Shanghai Electric Power. "As one of the stakeholders of Maltese energy company Enemalta, SEP gives its full support to any plan to revital- ize old power stations that can make profits for the enterprise, improve the city image, create employment opportunities and enhance social benefits," Xia Meixing told Shine News. also pointed out that over the past decade, Shanghai as a city "has gained much experience in reusing abandoned industri- al plants". The deed transferring the land to Enemalta was signed a few days before the publi- cation of a legal notice that turned Enemalta into a public limited liability company. The legal notice exempted any land owned by Enemalta plc or its successors, from the Disposal of Government Land Act (DG- LA), meaning that such land transfers do not require any further authorisation by MPs – exempting the company from seeking a parliamentary reso- lution or public tender to sell off the land. The land had already been identified for future commer- cial development, according to a project development state- ment for the decommissioning of the plant submitted to the Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority in 2015. Back in August 2021, the gov- ernment unveiled its vision for regeneration of the Grand Har- bour but stopped short of say- ing how the power station site will be utilised. But in November the Plan- ning Authority issued guiding principles for the regeneration of the Grand Harbour area. The proposed plan proposes turning the inner harbour area into a "prime tourism and lei- sure harbour destination". However, it adds that this should be integrated with a "socially diverse, coastal resi- dential neighbourhood on the site of the former Marsa power station and its immediate are- as". The guidelines exclude high- rise developments, which are not deemed appropriate in this location as they may impact on views of the fortifications and may not relate well with tall buildings in another part of Marsa, already designated for high-rise office developments. New buildings also have to "relate well" with existing buildings of cultural impor- tance like the Chadwick Build- ing, the ex-Sea Malta building and the other traditional ware- house buildings on the quays. The plan also envisages the closure or scaling down or re- location of heavy industries and cargo handling from with- in the inner harbour area, in- cluding ship repair facilities, the abattoir, and other "obnox- ious industries". The Menqa tal-Braken area is also being earmarked for a yacht marina and "a high-qual- ity innovation hub" set to in- clude shared spaces for start- ups in the creative industries. A network of public green open spaces and recreational areas is also being proposed along the stretch of coastline. In 2017 the Chamber of Ar- chitects had protested against the demolition of parts of the power station deemed to have architectural value as part of Malta's industrial heritage and could be used to house a mod- ern art gallery like the Tate in London. Meixing also referred to SEP's plans for a Zero Carbon Island "five-in-one" (energy, grid, load, storage and power con- trol) project on the island of Gozo. He also described the contro- versial Enemalta investment in the Mozura Wind Power Plant, in Montenegro, as a "successful example of cooperation" be- tween Mediterranean nations. An investigation by Reuters and Times of Malta last year revealed that Yorgen Fenech's 17 Black profited from the wind-farm deal through its business relationship with Ci- fidex, a Seychelles-based off- shore company. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Ideas being considered for power station site include commercial centre, high-end apartments and art galleries The deed transferring the land to Enemalta was signed a few days before the publication of a legal notice that turned Enemalta into a public limited liability company, exempting it from seeking a parliamentary resolution to dispose of the land