Mediterranean Maritime Fuel Hub: A new economic sector that creates wealth for today and for the future

The PN announces a project in part of Hurd’s Bank; a new economic niche expected to generate €450 million in the first three years – a project that will lead to the gas tanker being removed from Marsaxlokk

The Partit Nazzjonalista wants an economy that grows without suffocating our people, our families and our communities. This is the Partit Nazzjonalista’s vision for an economy that serves you, rather than an economy that crushes you so that it can grow.

During a press conference, Partit Nazzjonalista Leader Alex Borg announced the creation of a new economic sector: the Mediterranean Maritime Fuel Hub, an offshore investment in part of Hurd’s Bank that will create a new economic niche without placing additional pressure on the country’s population and infrastructure.

Alex Borg recalled how, when it was in government, the Partit Nazzjonalista had a clear direction and was instrumental in creating and developing economic sectors such as financial services, gaming, aviation, pharmaceuticals and maritime – sectors that remain pillars of the Maltese economy to this day and that have created quality jobs.

Today, as it did then, the Partit Nazzjonalista is determined to be a government that once again gives our country niches of excellence based on study and research, not one that throws out promises without vision. This is why the Mediterranean Maritime Fuel Hub will continue to build on Malta’s strategic position in the Mediterranean and further increase our country’s value. Through part of Hurd’s Bank, vessels will be able to receive important bunkering services without entering our ports or bays, thereby reducing traffic in our ports and saving valuable time for the maritime industry.

The proposal includes the creation of an offshore LNG terminal, with the possibility of including other fuels in the future. This will strengthen Malta’s position as a maritime hub in the Mediterranean and is estimated to be able to generate around €450 million in the Maltese economy in the first three years.

Alex Borg also announced that, through this project, the gas tanker in Marsaxlokk Bay will be removed from inside the bay and moved offshore, where this investment will take place.

This means two key benefits: the removal of the danger posed by the tanker being so close to the people of Marsaxlokk and Birżebbuġa, and security of energy supply will be strengthened, since today this tanker has to be taken out of the bay when there is bad weather. Through this project, a Nationalist Government will do for the people of Marsaxlokk and Birżebbuġa what a Labour Government promised them but failed to deliver, after pledging that within three years it would remove this tanker from there.

The Partit Nazzjonalista believes in an economy based on added value, productivity and new sectors that create real wealth for the country. This wealth is passed back to people through more money in their pockets, incentives, environmental projects and a better quality of life. Alex Borg said that the MMFH proposal continues to build on the proposals presented so far by the Partit Nazzjonalista, including those in health and energy.

This is the vision of a new Nationalist Government: a stronger, modern and sustainable economy that gives Malta and Gozo A Fresh Start.

Partit Nazzjonalista candidates Ivan Castillo and Oliver Cini – who worked on this proposal – explained in further detail how this project will work.

Ivan Castillo said that this project is based on our country’s geographical position, as Malta lies on one of the busiest shipping routes. Unfortunately, however, this traffic is currently passing us by because we are not yet equipped to provide the services these vessels need. This project will therefore fill a gap that currently exists in this important industry. He said that today, bunkering – the service that provides fuel to vessels – is shifting towards LNG. Ivan Castillo said that our country has two choices: either to continue doing nothing, or to invest in a sector that can give our country a strong new niche. This project would be built on a public-private partnership and carried out with the help of European funds. While supplying LNG, this project will be able to adapt to the fuels of the future. This means that the project will be future-proof.

This project will generate 150 new jobs, and a Nationalist Government has a plan for the upskilling and reskilling of workers for this sector.

Malta must choose – either move forward or be left behind.

Oliver Cini, a maritime engineer with 25 years of international experience in the gas sector, spoke in greater detail about the technical aspect of this project. He said that the project is based on three pillars:

1. The Floating Storage Unit, which will be able to receive LNG but can also adapt to new fuels in the future at no extra cost;
2. A Single Point Mooring that will connect the LNG supply to Delimara – removing the unacceptable risk posed by the tanker in Marsaxlokk Bay while allowing Malta to expand its catchment area for services;
3. The environment will be safeguarded and this project will not increase risks to the sea. A Nationalist Government will also ensure that there is an air monitoring system across the entire area, which currently does not exist, to provide greater environmental safety and protection for residents. At the same time, the project will be located away from residents.

The Leader of the Partit Nazzjonalista concluded by saying that this project will not only provide new jobs and further increase Malta’s value in the maritime sector, but will also be a project that invests in today’s generation, tomorrow’s generation and the generations to come.

05.05.2026