Government sees potential of waste-to-energy project
Tunnel being built between waste plant and power station
A tunnel that has been constructed to connect the Delimara power station to the controversial Sant'Antnin waste recycling plant is being seen by the government as a potential waste-to-energy link, according to sources.
The digging of the tunnel was contracted by Enemalta. WasteServ has said officially that its plans for the Sant'Antnin plant have nothing to do with it, despite the fact that it is right next to it.
However, government sources told The Times that a plan drafted for the Environment Ministry some time ago earmarks the tunnel as a "potential" waste-to-energy link between the two.
It stretches over 1.6 kilometres and links an area next to the recycling plant with another 3.2 kilometre tunnel which, in turn, links the Delimara and Marsa power stations. Enemalta plans to use the longer tunnel to install 33kV and 11kV cables to reinforce the high voltage network.
If a waste-to-energy plant is built in Delimara, a particular type of waste, known in the industry as refuse-derived fuel (RDF), can be transported through the tunnel.
There are about 30,000 tonnes of RDF in the Maltese waste stream, a quantity, which, the same sources say, is large enough to produce a substantial amount of energy though not quite in the quantities that would make it a viable export.
However, there is no consensus on the option since there are fears that Delimara residents will protest against it. And it will also depend on whether the Marsascala plant - on which an appeal is pending - is given the final go ahead by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
A cloud of smoke billowing from the tunnel at the Sant'Antin end caused some panic yesterday as five men were inside. There is still no clear explanation for the smoke but the situation was brought under control in no time. The incident, however, focused attention on the tunnel itself, details about which have not been published so far.
The works in the tunnel are at an advanced stage. In fact, the workers yesterday were applying the final touches.
At about 10.30 am, the man supervising the works from the outside saw a thick cloud of smoke emerge from the tunnel. Without a communication link between them and fearing the worst, he called the emergency services, which arrived in force.
Thankfully, the men emerged from the tunnel shortly after, completely oblivious to the panic outside. They had met the cloud some 1.4 kilometres into the tunnel, walked through it and continued walking on, finding no sign of fire.
The fire fighters inspected the tunnel but detected nothing out of the ordinary save for traces of carbon monoxide, which may have come from the exhaust of a small mechanical shovel being used.