Resources Minister George Pullicino told Parliament on Wednesday that the cost for purchasing, installing and the commissioning of the Marsa incinerator was of almost €9.32 million, the whole sum being financed under the Italian protocol.
The Maltese made an additional investment of €2.3 million to upgrade the plant and process chemical and other waste, according to the highest health and safety standards.
Operational costs in 2008 and 2009 were €2,081,085 and €2,229,388 respectively.
Since its installation in November 2007, the incinerator was stopped 14 times for maintenance.
In 2008, a total of 5,685.43 tons of waste were incinerated and this increased to 7,167.96 tons in 2009. This was an increase of 26 per cent of incinerated tonnage and only an increase of seven per cent in costs. This resulted in a cost reduction of 15 per cent on each ton incinerated.
The minister confirmed that the fuel cost for this year was €900,000.
Minister Pullicino was answering a question by Leo Brincat (PL).