Water Services terminates supplier contract over substandard pipes in EU-funded tunnel project

The Water Services Corporation (WSC) has terminated its contract with Turkish pipe supplier Superlit after independent testing revealed that pipes provided for the €7 million project to connect Ta’ Qali and Pembroke failed to meet quality standards.

The contract termination comes after sections of the supplied glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes were subjected to rigorous hydrostatic testing both on-site and in specialised laboratories abroad.

The tests, carried out in the presence of contractor representatives and international certification body Kiwa (NL B.V), confirmed that the pipes buckled under pressures well below the contractual requirements.

WSC immediately requested replacements in line with the signed agreement. However, the supplier rejected this demand and instead proposed partial fixes, a solution the Corporation refused.

“WSC remains committed to delivering infrastructure of the utmost quality and ensuring value for money within contractual obligations,” the Corporation said, underlining its refusal to compromise on standards.

The project, co-financed by the European Union, is a key part of Malta’s efforts to strengthen its water supply network, improve water quality and reduce long-term operational costs.

To mitigate delays, WSC has activated its contingency plan to safeguard the project timeline and ensure customers remain unaffected.

A new tender will be issued shortly to source compliant materials, while WSC has also formally demanded that Superlit bear the costs of replacement and pledged to “take all necessary actions to safeguard its interests.”

Despite the setback, WSC stressed that the project will be completed successfully without compromising its objectives, promising further updates as the retendering process advances.