Koperativa Produtturi tal-Ħalib (KPH) has warned that Malta narrowly avoided a national food-security crisis following last Friday’s massive blaze at the JAC Steel scrapyard in Marsa, which sits directly next to the cooperative’s feed-production facility.

Last Friday, a massive fire at a Marsa scrapyard sent thick smoke billowing across Malta, with the smell reported in several towns. In total, 153 firefighters and 16 senior fire officers from the CPD battled the blaze for hours, risking their lives to contain a disaster that should never have happened.

In a strongly worded statement issued after the incident, the dairy producers’ cooperative praised the Civil Protection Department and other frontline responders for acting with “speed, professionalism and exceptional coordination,” saying their intervention prevented a disaster that could have crippled livestock farming across the country.

“A tragedy that could have severely impacted our operations and by extension the livestock sector and national food security was avoided,” KPH said.

Immediate containment and safety measures

KPH said that within hours of the blaze, it launched an urgent internal assessment, secured all affected zones, and began repairing equipment damaged by heat and debris.

The cooperative emphasised that any raw materials or animal feed suspected of contamination were immediately quarantined.

“All raw and feed materials that may have been affected were carefully isolated and are being prepared for disposal in accordance with all legal, environmental and veterinary standards,” the cooperative said. Testing is under way by both authorities and KPH, while stocks are being replenished from off-site storage and expedited shipments to avoid disruption to farmers.

Years of warnings ignored

The cooperative used the incident to reiterate its long-standing concerns about the risks posed by operating next to the scrapyard, noting that the proximity has created ongoing challenges for worker safety, infrastructure and the wider agricultural supply chain.

“Operating next to a scrapyard has exposed us to ongoing serious danger. This danger has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the relevant authorities, including via judicial acts,” KPH noted.

The statement accused regulators of “beating around the bush” and insisting there were “no health and safety concerns,” despite years of complaints from the cooperative.

KPH stressed that it is one of Malta’s principal feed producers for cattle and other livestock, and said that severe damage to the Marsa plant would have had “far-reaching consequences” for farmers and national food supply.

Call for enforcement

The cooperative said the latest blaze corroborates its long-standing warnings and urged authorities to finally take decisive action.

“KPH sincerely hopes that enforcement measures will now be taken to ensure that whoever is at fault suffers the consequences of his acts or omissions,” it said.

The organisation closed by once again thanking the emergency personnel whose actions, it said, prevented immense harm and allowed the cooperative to begin restoring normal operations while continuing to advocate for a safer environment for its workers and the broader agricultural sector.

KPH is a cooperative of herdsmen who rear cattle primarily for milk production, and supplies feed to the vast majority – if not all – of Malta’s dairy cows. Feed is transported to the KPH facility, where it is processed and packaged to be distributed to farms across the islands.

The cooperative is also the majority shareholder in Malta Dairy Products Limited, the company behind the Benna brand, which processes, packs and distributes an array of milk and dairy products.

The press release issued by KPH corroborates the details revealed in a WhosWho.mt article published yesterday.

Earlier, WhosWho.mt had also unravelled the network behind the fire-prone scrapyard, whose owner, Conrad Baldacchino, maintains notably close ties with several Labour Party figures. The company is partly owned by Audrey Inger Demicoli, also known as Audrey Testaferrata De Noto or “Perit Audrey,” who is employed by Transport Malta and contested the 2022 general election as a Labour Party candidate.