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Bringing Xemxija flour mill back to life
Bringing Xemxija flour mill back to life
A group of BNF Bank staff members volunteered their time to take part in an extensive clean-up of an underground flour mill in Xemxija towards the end of 2021.
The bank also made a contribution towards the future restoration of the historical site. The initiative was carried out by the St Paul’s Bay branch, in collaboration with the local council of the town. BNF Bank focused on the Xemxija Mill as it represented an opportunity to look after an important piece of Maltese heritage in great need of some upkeep, which was itself conceived, to preserve the survival of the Maltese community.
The underground flour mill in the northern town of Xemxija, was built by the British in the 1950s, at the start of the Cold War, to continue providing flour and prevent a shortage of food in case of a nuclear attack. Nowadays, it is the only underground mill in working state, out of eight emergency mills built around the Maltese Islands.
“As a local bank, we are committed to playing an active role in our community. Heritage is part of our culture and we believe it is our duty to help preserving it. I am grateful to all the team members that took part in organising and carrying out the clean-up, and to the St Paul’s Bay local council that helped us make this happen,” said Kurt Pulis, St Paul’s Bay branch manager.
The town’s mayor, Alfred Grima, also expressed his appreciation towards the bank’s efforts. “This is a tangible contribution towards enabling our residents to enjoy the heritage found in St Paul’s Bay. The clean-up of the area around the mill room is making visits more accessible, with further improvement being brought about by the upcoming restoration.”
