The Malta Federation of Industry (FOI), through its Environment Committee, organised an information meeting on waste management and energy recovery. The meeting, chaired by FOI Environment Committee chairman Godwin C. Micallef, was also addressed by Dipl. Ing. Alexander Breitenbach, local representative of CUTEC-Institut GmbH and by Professor Heins, head of the Department of Environmental Economics and Law, Technology Assessment, CUTEC-Institut GmbH.

The two speakers gave an overview of CUTEC-Institute GmbH, which was established to execute practical environmental development projects using interdisciplinary and adapted technologies for the treatment of solid, liquid and gaseous wastes.

The institute is funded partly through an annual subvention from the German public sector and partly through projects.

The speakers explained how, last summer, the Maltese Ministry for Infrastructure and Resources as well as that for Environment and Agriculture signed a co-operation agreement with CUTEC.

Malta has big problems of air pollution and it is completely dependent on the importation of fossil fuel for electricity generation. Furthermore, the drinking water supply, waste-water treatment and solid waste disposal all present further major challenges.

Through this agreement, the institute is supporting the Government to implement comprehensive ecological modernisation and a national strategy for sustainable development.

During question time Professor Heins said that although the agreement was between CUTEC and the Government, his institute was willing to work with the private sector in areas of common interest.

Interested readers wishing more information are to contact the FOI Secretariat on tel: 2122-2074, 2123-4428.