Malta pledges to come into line with emissions’ limits next year

Malta has told the European Commission it will be among 14 member states to meet legally-binding limits on air pollutants by next year – even though per capita it is currently at the bottom of the table.

Thirteen countries – including Austria, Belgium, Germany and France – have informed the European Environment Agency (EEA) they are not in a position to meet legally-binding emission ceilings on four pollutants set under the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD).

The NECD sets legally-binding emission ceilings that each member state must meet by 2010, and obliges member states to report annually information concerning emissions and projections on four pollutants.

The latest report by the EEA shows Malta’s ranking to be among the worst in the EU, but listed the country among those pledging to meet legally-binding limits on four pollutants by next year.

These pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ammonia and non-methane volatile organic compounds) contribute to the formation of particulate matter, which are harmful to human health as well as to ecosystems and vegetation. Malta ranks last among the member states on total emissions of three of the four pollutants under the NECD, according to the EEA report. On sulphur dioxide emissions, Malta ranks third from last.

The pollutants in question were at the centre of a ruling by the European Court of Justice against Malta last week holding that hazardous gases emitted by the power stations exceeded the levels set by EU environmental rules.

An Enemalta spokesman confirmed that the power stations emit the majority of sulphur dioxide in Malta. The power stations also generate almost half of the nation’s nitrogen oxide emissions, while the transport sector contributes an equal measure, a spokesman for the corporation said.

Sulphur dioxide particularly affects the respiratory system and the heart, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO also states that humans exposed to high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide suffer lung irritation.

Enemalta detailed its plans to reduce both pollutants until 2013. Some of the projects will start to be implemented next year, but questions persist on whether the reduction will be in line with EU limits by the set deadline.

Enemalta told The Sunday Times it will reduce the emissions of these pollutants through the increased use of the CCGT plant at Delimara (which uses gas oil) and combustion optimisation on the boilers. The two boilers at Delimara are planned to be modified during 2010 and 2011.

With the operation of the new plant at Delimara in 2011, emissions will reduce further. The operation of the first interconnector in 2012-2013 will again reduce the spread of these pollutants.