Mepa clears way for gas storage plant resiting

Qajjenza residents will finally be relieved of a menacing neighbour - a massive gas storage plant that sits right next to them - after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved its relocation to Benghajsa.

The authority gave the green light to the outline development application for the construction of an LPG gas plant in Benghajsa, located on the cliffs adjacent to the Malta Freeport's oil storage facilities.

The permit is still at outline stage, meaning that the details of the design and other specifications will be dealt with later on. However, it was decided that the new plant will be located at the disused quarry at Ix-Xoqqiet, in Benghajsa. The new facilities will include a parking area, an administration building and storage tanks, which will actually be embedded in the terrain, while the area, in general, will be landscaped to mitigate the visual impact.

The current arrangement at Qajjenza breaches the EU's Seveso Directive, among other things. This directive demands that factories or plants that pose significant fire and exposition hazards are located away from residential areas.

The move has been long coming. In 2002, then Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici had already provided estimates of the cost involved to relocate there.

During the board sitting that approved the new plant, the case officer explained that an infrastructural malfunction could lead to a massive explosion, which, in extreme cases, could lead to a domino effect that would see multiple gas tanks explode.

The new location is not problem free, however, since it is placed right adjacent to Fort Benghajsa and close to the cliffs which are considered to be of significant ecological importance, particularly because there are a series of important natural caves. There were also Punic and prehistoric finds in the area, the case officer explained, while pointing out the mitigation measures that will have to be implemented to safeguard this heritage.

Moreover, the location of the new plant will be aligned to the final approach path of aircraft landing at Malta International Airport.

The board heard that the likelihood of an accident was extremely remote.

Birzebbuga mayor Joseph Farrugia expressed concern over the disposal of the waste water from the plant. To counter this, the case officer pointed out that a filtering system will be incorporated in the design in order to purify all water before it is dumped at sea.

The mayor retorted that Enemalta's current practice was to dump dirty water directly into sea at the bay near Qajjenza. "Anyone can come and see for himself," he said, in the presence of Enemalta representatives.

Issues surrounding the water purification system will be dealt with at the full development permit stage.