The quarry where the cruise liner terminal is to be located

The quarry where the cruise liner terminal, yacht marina and housing/shopping development is planned is not the ‘dead’ quarry near Hondoq ir-Rummien, which is where there were plans for a yacht marina and homes, in 2002. That quarry was owned by Victor Bajada, who has died since then.

We’re talking about another quarry altogether: this one is owned by the contractors Gatt brothers and is further along that part of the coast. These are not the Mosta-based Gatt brothers, but from Gozo.

The quarry in question, known as Ta’ Klement in the area known as Is-Simar in Qala, is the only hardstone quarry in the Maltese islands, and is the source of the stone used for the Renzo Piano-designed parliament house and city gate in Valletta. The quarry is still very active.

The owners of the quarry are the main players in the consortium Kalamarina, which submitted the only expression of interest in response to the government’s 2013 call (six companies had picked up documents, but five of them didn’t follow through).

The consortium is made up of various companies in which the Gatts have a direct or indirect shareholding. Investors are also lined up, but there is as yet no information on who these investors are.

Kalamarina’s consultants are AG Marina Consultants, a partnership set up three years ago between Anna Tabone and Gordon Vassallo, who have worked extensively in the field. AG Marina Consultants will eventually also manage the marina if and when the project comes through.