Claudia Calleja
Delimara power station may collapse - geologist
The Delimara power station is built on an excavated chalk cliff that may collapse and threaten the stability of Malta's main energy generating plant, a geologist has warned.
Works, such as excavation, carried out during the planned extension to the power station may unsettle the already fragile rock and lead to disaster, Peter Gatt has cautioned.
However, an Enemalta spokesman insisted that the company's experts do not agree that the cliff face is unstable.
"There are no movements of the cliff face. However, it is subject to weathering and this is monitored," the spokesman said.
Works planned as part of the extension were not likely to unsettle the cliff. However, measures would be taken if necessary, he said.
It is hoped that the extension of the Delimara power station, expected to be completed by the end of 2011, will mean that the Marsa plant can be decommissioned.
Two geologists who did not wish to be named - but who have been involved with government contracts - said that Mr Gatt's theory of the cliff-collapse was "an alarmist opinion" since the cliff was made of limestone, not chalk.
However, Mr Gatt, who is currently studying for a PhD in geology at Durham University in the UK, stuck by his theory.
He said that when the curved-shaped area within the coastline on the Delimara peninsula was excavated during the construction of the power station, the chalk cliff was excavated to make space for the power station.
When such rock was excavated, Mr Gatt said, the unloading of its very own weight caused it to form tension cracks.
"The point I am making is that Malta's main electricity production centre is located adjacent to an excavated chalk cliff, which would be considered a nightmare scenario in other countries," he said.
He stressed the importance of taking precautions and studying the geological repercussions of works on the power station's extension and ensure that any rock face movements were monitored.
The 1988 environment impact assessment into the power station, built in 1992, did not go into the stability of the rock.
A spokesman for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said Mepa had requested "a study into the stability and geology of surrounding rock." But according to the Enemalta spokesman: "This is not considered necessary, as the premise that the cliff face is unstable is incorrect.
"The cliff face has been excavated since 1989, and it is stable. Excavations into similar limestone such as tunnels and the decommissioned underground power stations at Kordin and Marsa are still stable after over 70 years," Enemalta said.
Delimara power station
• The Delimara power station has been shrouded in controversy since its inception.
• Before it was built, environmentalists voiced their concerns about its impact on the biodiversity in the area while residents were worried about the impact on their health - a concern they still voice today.
• In August 2004, one resident - former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff - was awarded €838,000 in compensation by the courts for the de facto expropriation of his Delimara home, L-Gharix.
• Last May the losing bidder for the new 100MW extension claimed its offer was cheaper and more advantageous than the winning bid.
• Recently, the government proposed building a new waste incinerator at the plant.
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Phil Humphries
Aug 17th 2009, 10:49
What surprised me most was the statement, "The 1988 environment impact assessment into the power station, built in 1992, did not go into the stability of the rock."
This can't be right, can it? How could anyone consider building anything, let alone a Power Station, without giving serious consideration to the suitability of the underlying ground? Surely other geological surveys were conducted prior to its construction, weren't there?
I seem to recall a biblical warning about the perils of building on unsuitable ground, but perhaps those that designed and built the Power Station weren't Christians and were unaware of it.
Michael Neville Cassar
Aug 17th 2009, 10:19
Waste and wrong decisions taken are not a problem as long as the tax payers who will pay. If everyone was genuine there will be a lot of people out of work, live today and do not worry about tomorrow. This is the impression that I get from many I meet with and without administration responsibility, shame on such a negative attitude.
Joseph Schembri
Aug 16th 2009, 20:09
It boils down to semantics - the British use the word 'chalk; to mean any rock which has a mineral composition prevalently based on calcium carbonate. In Malta we call the same type of rock 'limestone'. The confusion may arise because at school we were wrongly taught that what the teacher used to write on the blackboard was chalk. It was (or do they still use it?) another mineral - calcium sulphate - closer to plaster of paris in composition than either Maltese Limestone or English Chalk.
The chap studying for his PhD is doing so in England that is why he uses the term 'chalk'. It is confusing to the Maltese.
c. camilleri
Aug 16th 2009, 19:13
@ jeremy j camilleri. Dom Mintoff was awared 838,000 euros in compensation. There is still people who had their land expropriated in the 80s and did not yet got one cent. Look at the bypass at Wied Blandun. This land has all been taken over by Minister Sant and yet the owner has not received anything yet. And you talk of partisanism.
leonardo vince
Aug 16th 2009, 17:46
Responsibility of future mishaps to the power station could be tagged now.
Past and present management and technical people involved should beware.
Galea. L
Aug 16th 2009, 17:42
No wonder they had a problem with the turbines continually going out of alignment. And they have the gall to want to extend the power station at the same place and with an old polluting technology to boot!!!!!
Paul Barrett
Aug 16th 2009, 17:17
After this afternoons minor mishap it is a race to see if it will collapse into the sea or just totally pack up on us!
Simon Swartz
Aug 16th 2009, 16:07
"Two geologists who did not wish to be named - but who have been involved with government contracts - said that Mr Gatt's theory of the cliff-collapse was "an alarmist opinion" since the cliff was made of limestone, not chalk."
Let's see who will be the one to take full responsibility when the whole project will be literally flushed down in the sea.
It will be the downfall of the economy of Malta.
K Buhagiar
Aug 16th 2009, 13:20
"Two geologists who did not wish to be named - but who have been involved with government contracts - said that Mr Gatt's theory of the cliff-collapse was "an alarmist opinion" since the cliff was made of limestone, not chalk."
It appears to me that Chalk is a type of Limestone...
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 16th 2009, 13:10
Oh well...I guess the location of this power station wasn't based on partisan politics