Decision on Malta's first crematorium deferred after council asks for more time

The Planning Authority has deferred a decision on an outline permit for what would be Malta’s first crematorium near the Addolorata cemetery in Paola. 

Planning board chair Emanuel Camilleri accepted a request by the Paola local council to postpone a ruling on PA/05280/21, so it could study a presentation delivered during Thursday’s hearing. 

The presentation was given by Rodrigo Grimaldi, a representative of the Spanish company Etick, which has been contracted to build the crematorium by applicant Johann Camilleri.

The exterior design of the crematorium. Photo: PA

Grimaldi explained that the crematorium would use the best available technology to ensure no smoke would be visible and that any gases emitted would be safe, invisible, and odour-free. The facility would be compliant with the strictest EU standards, he said. 

According to the plans, the crematorium’s control systems would be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and control components, such as oxygen, temperature and CO2 probes, pressure sensors and alarms. Real-time data would be transmitted to the site’s technical team as well as the Environment and Resources Authority for continuous monitoring. 

“Any malfunction stops ongoing cremation until optimal filtration is restored. This guarantees zero risk of unfiltered emissions,” Grimaldi said. 

Grimaldi also presented case studies of two crematoriums in the historic centre of Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain, which he cited as examples of installations that demonstrate safe operations near communities.  

Santa Lucija mayor Charmaine St John expressed concern about the plans. She said the crematorium in Bilbao was built in 1893, and at the time, it was not close to residential buildings. 

“New rules were introduced in recent years, and [the crematorium] would not be allowed now,” she said. Grimaldi replied that filtration systems had been installed in the past few years, he added. 

One member of the board said the reports submitted so far only dealt with emissions and did not address the facility’s combustion system, the fuel that would be used, noise, vibrations, or the height of chimneys. 

Paola Mayor Jason Silvio asked the board to defer its decision so the council could review everything presented.

Camilleri agreed, adding that since the application was the first of its kind in Malta, the PA was “navigating uncharted waters”.