The European Commission would not comment on whether the planned extension of the Delimara power station would fall in line with EU rules on emissions.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said he did not wish to comment for the time being on the matter given that the process for it to be granted the necessary permits by the planning authority, including an IPPC permit (integrated pollution prevention and control), was still ongoing. He was replying to a question by Labour MEP Louis Grech.

Mr Potocnik recalled that the European Commission had already initiated legal action against Malta with regard to emission levels at the Delimara power plant.

In a judgment last October in a case instituted by the Commission against Malta, the European Court of Justice had found that the island had exceeded emissions allowed by EU rules and ordered Malta to comply with the emission levels.

After the judgment, the government declared its commitment to adhere to EU rules and argued that it was only due to "technical" limitations that Enemalta was unable to meet its obligations on time.

Last January, the planning authority agreed in principle to a proposed development of a 144MW extension to the existing power plant.

The extension is, however, still needs a full development permit and an IPPC permit to go ahead.

The IPPC Directive requires installations such as the Delimara power plant to be issued with permits that regulate emissions based on the best available techniques, designed to prevent or at least reduce emissions and the impact on the environment as a whole.

In this vein, Mr Potocnik pointed out that Brussels was already taking action on the existing plant.

In separate statements both the Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika criticised what they said was a lack of committment by the government with regard to environmental and health matters.