Dino Fino, a furniture importer, is proposing the cultivation of aloe vera plants beneath an array of solar panels at Ta’ Buqana on the outskirts of Mosta.
Described in the planning application as an ‘agrivoltaic farm,’ the project foresees the erection of ground-mounted solar panels at heights ranging from 2.5m to 4m.
The project will sprawl over 32,314sq.m of land – the size of five football grounds - in the area between Mosta and Rabat.
However, the project has raised concerns because the targeted site, currently consisting of agricultural fields, holds the designation of an Area of High Landscape Value (AHLV). It is also partly recognized as an Area of Ecological Importance (AEI) and Site of Scientific Importance (SSI).
The Environment and Resources Authority has already raised objections, warning that it would involve the take-up of “undeveloped agricultural land,” potentially compromising the scenic value of the site.
Read more at maltatoday.com.mt