The Planning and Gozo Ministry, entrusted with the oversight and enforcement of planning laws in Malta, has installed an innovative EU-funded solar farm in Gozo without the necessary development permits from the Planning Authority.
The Ministry, which inaugurated the project in October following months of work, applied for a permit only a day after The Shift asked questions about the missing permit.
The project includes the installation of 15 so-called solar flowers in Ta’ Xhajma in Gozo as part of the multi-modal hub – a massive car park in Xewkija – which is still incomplete despite its official inauguration.
In October, Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, together with Parliamentary Secretary Omar Farrugia, inaugurated the project, dubbed the first similar project in the EU.
A total of 15 massive solar flowers – an experimental technology still in its infancy – were installed in a field next to the car park with the intention of producing energy for the same facility.
The project is financed by the EU and is estimated to cost some €850,000. A tender was issued by Public Works in 2024 and won by Alternative Technology Limited, based in Swieqi and owned by Mario and Maria Cachia.
Research by The Shift to identify the development permit related to this installation drew a blank, as no permit appeared to have been issued by the Planning Authority.
When asked for a copy of the permit, the Gozo Ministry said that it formed part of the original car park permit issued six years earlier. This turned out not to be true, as the original permit PA1606/19 did not envisage such an installation.
The Planning Authority also took the same position as the Ministry.

However, just a day after The Shift’s questions (sent on November 7), the architect of the Gozo Ministry filed a minor amendment change-of-use application so that the illegal installation could be regularised.
The PA, which falls under the same Ministry, asked for further clarifications, which were submitted through amended plans on December 2, when the illegal installation was finally validated.
So far, it is not known what led the Planning Ministry to complete infrastructural works without even applying for a permit, and who is going to be held responsible for the latest blunder.
It is also not known why the installation of an innovative and experimental technology was handled by the Planning Ministry and Public Works instead of the Environment and Energy Ministry.
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#car oark
#EU funds
#Gozo Ministry
#Omar Farrugia
#Solar flowers
#Ta' Xjajma
Biex ghamel dawk il fjuri tax-xemx, ghamel sfregju fl’ambjent. Qedin fl’ 2025 u qass biss jisthu min huthom l’Ghawdxin u l bqija Maltin. Fejna il gustizja PA u l kumplament
Dik z zona ghamlu herba minnha ja qatta kriminali! Sfregju! Kienu ghelieqi w biex jiggustifikaw dan l att barbaru fuq l ambjent l bobby qalilna hemmhekk kien dumping site!! Tal-misthija. Halfu li jeqirdu kullimkien!! Issa ser imiss l wied ta din z zona! Fregju iehor u hadd ma jlissen u jaghmel xejn!! Issa qed iduru ghal widien ikaxxru kull m hemm bil gafef u jibnu kruha ta hitan bil kantun!! U dan qed jaghmluh biex jiehdu l fondi mil EU u min jaf kemm jitfghu gewwa fil-but! U lil dal poplu gifa ibellawielu li qed inaddfu l widien min pjanti invasivi! Kriminali!!
I mean fine, but if it’s a carpark then why didn’t they just install regular solar panels as a roof, and then you get shade?
There’s literally no need for taking up the extra space (and probably money)
(Not sure why I’m in caps, sorry!)
Mur ara kieku jaghmel dawn l affarijiet cittadin komuni kif iddur ghalih il planning authority. Il planning authority qerdet malta u ghawdex.
Lanqas ta. Ghax qed ihallu lil kullhadd jaghmel l irid. Jibni fejn irid, kif irid u meta irid. U dan ghax huma qed jaghmlu aghar biex ikomplu bla xkiel!! Dik hi l hadma!
Planning corruption and deceit
All well and good, and still no space allocated for the the Gozo Model Flying association, the club was displaced many years ago and left with empty promises. The parking took the only space available to the club.
Leaving what was a rejuvenating hobby grounded and dead.