Enemalta had 'technical' limitations
Power plant emissions exceed EU standards
Hazardous gases emitted by the power stations exceeded the levels set by EU environmental rules, the European Court of Justice ruled yesterday.
The case was instituted by the European Commission against Malta last year, accusing the island of failing to correctly apply an EU directive limiting airborne emissions of certain pollutants from large combustion plants. This was about the operation of the phase one steam plant at the Delimara and Marsa power plants.
This ECJ ruling follows hot on the heels of the decision on spring hunting in mid-September and came a day after the Prime Minister warned that unless Malta reduced its CO2 emissions, its economy would not be sustainable.
The court found that Malta had not adhered to the directive and failed to bring its legislation in line with Community law.
According to the reasoned opinion, Malta had until August 2007 to regularly monitor and rein in the emissions permitted from the power stations.
The island will have to comply with the provisions of this directive and pay the costs of the case.
Reacting to the ECJ's judgment, the government declared its commitment to adhere to the directive and argued it was only due to "technical" limitations that Enemalta was unable to meet its obligations on time.
The Infrastructure Ministry listed the actions being taken to address this: Enemalta installed the continuous flue gas emissions monitoring instruments required and invested €2 million to upgrade the chimneys.
It also recently awarded a contract worth €165 million for a 144-megawatt generating plant at Delimara that was fully compliant with emissions' regulations. This will replace part of the Marsa plant.
The ministry said Enemalta was in the process of awarding a tender for the phase one boilers at Delimara in order to reduce nitrogen oxide and dust emissions.
These modifications were expected to cut nitrogen oxide emissions to ensure compliance with the directive's obligations, it said.
In the meantime, Enemalta was carrying out trials with combustion additives and burner modifications to reduce the emissions as much as possible until the boilers were modified.