Power station: Minister confirms absence of emission penalties - spare parts agreement still to be signed
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has confirmed that the power station extension contract with BWSC does not feature penalties should agreed emission limits be exceeded.
Replying to questions in Parliament by Nationalist MP Franco Debono, the minister explained that emission levels were set by law and were therefore mandatory. BWSC was obliged to take all measures to observe them. Should the limits not be respected, the plant equipment would ‘not be accepted'.
"In practice, this means that the plant must reach the specified limit values in order to be accepted," the minister said.
Replying to other questions by Dr Debono, Mr Fenech said a spare parts and technical services agreement on the power station extension had not been signed yet.
He said that the SPTSA would be signed on completion of the engineering design of the plant. The €18m contract would cover five years, after which it could be extended or another contractor could be considered, the minister said.
In reply to other questions by Dr Debono, Mr Fenech said the new power station plant could operate on both heavy fuel oil and gasoil. The use of gasoil with a sulphur content of 0.1 per cent would remove the need for de-sulphurisation and reduce solid waste produced by the plant by some 95 per cent, but the average operational cost would be higher by some 30 per cent - based on 2009 fuel prices - even when one considered the savings from de-sulphurisation and the disposal of the flyash.
Parliament will be debating the power station extension today following a motion moved by the Opposition.
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Lewis Ellul
May 6th 2010, 16:25
@Profs Joe Micallef
Billi jien, bhalek, b'iniex espert f'din il-materja, nippreferi nhalli f'idejn esperti bhal Profs (ta' veru) Edward Mallia li zgur mhux marbut ma l-ebda' parit politiku. Ir-risposta ghall-asserzzjoni tal-Ministru li Malta se tifranka jghaidilhekk car u tond f'din il-korrizpondenza. Ghalhekk jidher li l-uniku fattur li gieghel lil shabek tal-Gvern imorru ghal sistema mahmuga u li tista' tikkaguna hafna aktar hsara fl-amjent u fil-pulmun tieghek, tieghi u ta' uliedna, kien il-gwadann personali ta' certi nies. Ma tridx tkun xi professur biex tarha din.
Joe Micallef
May 6th 2010, 17:17
Lewis habib inti qieghed tonqos lil Malta. Jekk ghandek il-provi mur bijhom ghand il-pulizija nkella tghamel sew tahseb dwar x'qed tighd qabel ma tkompli iggorr il karetun ta hadd iehor minghajr ma taf x'fih!
L'awditur ma sabx provi kif lanqas ghamlet il-kumpanija li qieghed jiddefendi Joey. Izda peress illi huma makkaki izjed min joey flok marru il-qorti biex iwaqqfu il-process, dendlu il-hniexa lil-Joey u dak bhal mazzun (jew ghal interess politiku) belaha - kif qed tghamel int. Ta' Edward Mallia, li ghandi rispett kbir lejh bhala pijunir tal moviment ambjentali f'Malta, hija opinjoni personali li kontrieha kemm hafna fost ohrajn il-konkluzjoni tal'Awditur.
Issa x'hin ikollok cans irrispondi id-domonda jekk inti hux lest thallas izjed ghal kont tad-dawl! Nerga nighdlek, jien lest inhallas aktar biex jkunu hemm sistema aktar nadifa.
Joe Micallef
May 6th 2010, 17:43
Nixiteq ukoll nighdlek illi jien naqbel ma Profs Mallia li ghandu jintuza gasoil, u lest inhallas ghal sistemi aktar nodfa.
U int?
C Muscat
May 6th 2010, 14:39
It is also good to note that the cost of water and electricity is not so transparent how it is worked out. From what I gather, we are paying for the actual cost plus extra amount for past and present investments. The past and present investments means money for other blunders and if like Mater Dei the project ends up 200% or 300% of the budget; all that is done we pay more for something like water and electricity and / or for higher VAT. At least the PN stated that someday the income tax rate would be lowered.
Wishful thinking: the backbenchers will put the present PN administration back to the party's roots and principles. Xoghol, Gustizzja u Liberta.
Lewis Ellul
May 6th 2010, 12:39
@ Profs Joe Micallef
Jidher li int wiehed li tibla' kollox jew inkella wiehed iffissat li taqra biss in-Nazzjon u hlief Net TV ma tarax. habib, tajjeb li kultant tisma' ftit x'qed jghidu dawk li m'ghandomx interess politiku imma huma esperti hafna aktar minni u minnek f'din il-materja. Spiccajna f'sitwazzjoni li KULHADD kontra l-mod kif inghata l-kuntratt u l-kuntratt innifsu hlief ghal dawk iffissati fil-PN u dawk li ghandom hobzhom mahbuz taht dan il-Gvern. Shame! Imiskom tisthu tghidu li intom Maltin!
Joe Micallef
May 6th 2010, 14:53
Lewis you wasted your time telling me what I am and what I am not and did not spare a sentence to tell me whether you'd be willing to pay higher utility bills than what we already do if the plant was to run on diesel? You just don't know which string to pull, either the one of cleaner technology or the one of lower bills, ignorant as you are (that comes with watching to much comic TV) that neither one is without repercussions.
Myself I am in favor of having the power plant run on diesel but I understand that I am in a minority. Worker Unions and Employers will certainly be against me.
Now Profs. what is you position?
Raymond Cutajar
May 6th 2010, 12:33
Re Emissions Control !!
a) 1999 The Vehicle Roadworthiness Test was introduced locally
b) Trucks / Cars all over Malta could be seen and still are seen which should not be in such condition at that point in time
c) This all in broad daylight and in front of all of Malta
d) ????????????????????????????????????????
Z ) And the Govornment incl this horror tale of huge emissions liability wants to CONVINCE one and all that emissions are to be controlled ?? Out of Sight out of Mind is the psych of the advisors
CRAFTY INDEED
Edward Mallia
May 6th 2010, 10:40
It may be worth mentioning that a recent examination of the BWSC web site where installation of piston engines for generating electricy are listed, there are three or four island situations similar to ours. In all of them there is not hint that HFO rather than diesel is being used as fuel. As supporting evidence there is only one mention of pollution reducing equipment being used and that is for the removal of NOx and not for SO2. Which brings us to the question: Was the use of HFO rather than gasoil a proposition that originated with us rather than BWSC? 'Us' in this case would be a government in a total panic about the mess it made with electricity charges, principally because of hedgeing agreements which went wrong. To repeat: if both sides of the House have a modicum of public sense, then a motion requiring Enemalta to use gasoil rather than HFO is one that will really benefit us all.
P.Scicluna
May 6th 2010, 10:08
are they included in the tender price?
are we going to pay more?
the total cost is it cheaper than second bidder?
what is the yearly cost to operate including maintanance, disposal of residue?
D. Scerri
May 6th 2010, 11:33
Answers:
No.
Yes.
No.
Unknown, but you can bet that the taxpayer will foot the bill.
Now go back to sleep, PN is busy.
A Galea
May 6th 2010, 14:11
@ D Scerri: Busy destroying Malta it seems
Edward Mallia
May 6th 2010, 09:53
Well done to Franco Debono for asking minister Tonio Fenech about comparative electricity costs when running the BWSC engines on HFO and gasoil(diesel). The Minister said 30% extra for gasoil, which is slithly lower than the figures (38%) given for BWSC engines on HFO (8c/unit) and the Bateman 'Gas' turbine on gasoil (11c/unit). I would suggest that 30% is an upper limit on two counts. 1. The engines running on HFO would have a higher maintenance bill than if running on gasoil as the former fuel is cruder. 2. Running the engines on HFO will leave a residue of sludge ( about 1 tonne/day) which cannot be burnt in the engines. Suggested burning of this sludge in the existing Abbatoir incinerator or in the future Delimara incinerator is fraught with danger. 3. HFO is so dense that considerable amounts of energy have to be expended to heat it before it can be pumped to the boilers or engines. Extra energy = extra cost.
For these reasons, both Government and Opposition should agree on a motion requiring
Enemalta to use gasoil and not HFO in the engines. That would be a public-spirited compromise of the first water.
Fenech M D
May 6th 2010, 09:37
Ara vera qaghdna ghal kollox
''Replying to questions in Parliament by Nationalist MP Franco Debono, the minister explained that emission levels were set by law and were therefore mandatory.''
The minister should have added, ''after the law was changed to benefit the contract''
Should the limits not be respected, the plant equipment would ‘not be accepted'.
"In practice, this means that the plant must reach the specified limit values in order to be accepted," the minister said.
We all know what usually happens IN PRACTISE.
Jekk MP Franco Debono huwa sodisfatt li n-nies li vvutawlu kuntenti b'dawn it twegibiet jmur jivvota mal-gvern.
Imma jekk veru JIRRISPETTA lil dawn l-istess votanti, lil uliedhom u 'l familji taghhom, le Dr Debono, ivvota kontra.
Il-fatt li ghadek sal-lum issaqqsi fuqu dal-progett, qed turi li míntiex sodisfatt, li mintiex cert fuqu.
Ninsew ghal ftit ir-riha tinten ta'korruzzjoni li fih dal-progett; ghal Dr Debono ZGUR li sahhet dawn in nies tigi l ewwel.
Jien perswas minn dan.
T Camilleri
May 6th 2010, 10:46
"In practice, this means that the plant must reach the specified limit values in order to be accepted," the minister said.
What can the government then do if it has already been paid as millions have already been paid?
Joe Grima
May 6th 2010, 09:21
Every day that passes we learn more as to what a bunch of incompetents these Minsiters are and what a laissez Faire Prime Minister we have. In My opinion, Nationalist MPs like Franco Debono, Jean Pierre Farrugia. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Jemond Muliett Ninu Zammit and some others are not cut form the same cloth as the crusted ministers who have lorded over us for the past 20 years. Today these men have an opportuniuty to show character and to tell the Cabinet that they will not tolerate garbage being thrown at the people of this country. I invite all Nationalist MPs of goodwill to break a lance for correctness and for a better way of behaving when deciding on issues involving the health and wellbeing of the Maltese. Make your mark on the history of our country guys and take up your courage with both hands this evening when the time comes to stand up and be counted for Malta. Mhemmx rispett uman f'din. Jew Maltin jew m'intomx. Jigri x'jigri il Gvern hemm se jibqa.
Joseph Cauchi
May 6th 2010, 12:16
@ Joe Grima,
Wishful Thinking!
JC.
J Brown
May 6th 2010, 09:08
and this is country which launches public invitations to make climate change suggestions and commits itself in Europe to curb emissions ....on paper of course . we are only failing our health - the most precious thing a human can have along with freedom
P. FARRUGIA
May 6th 2010, 09:05
@ Lewis Ellul
What did you find wrong with the Tonio Fenech Statement as announced in this article? I think this confirmation that the supplier is bound to submit a system that meets the emissions restrictions rather than ' work around' a potential deficiency with 'penalties' should put one's mind at rest. I also think it's normal that running on gasoil would be more expensive. This should be normal as gasoil is more refined and therefore more expensive; this has nothing to do with politics. There may be room for more transparency on this case but let's not be just superficial but be objective when doing criticism. It's easy to speculate and throw mud.
A Galea
May 6th 2010, 11:32
Speculation you say? Just ask the Auditor General if it is all 'speculation'!!! Just who is throwing the mud Mr Farrugia?
Adrian Aquilina
May 6th 2010, 09:01
Dear Minister, thank you for letting us now how a such a contract was awarded. I hope that I will keep all these shortcomings when elction time comes; hopefully, for the first time in a general election, will either vote PL or abstain from voting (six general elections voted PN). This is our money after all. For you maybe it's not much but for the working class it means much more. And please, stop going on tv trying to justify all these arguments and threatening to leave the program when you don't agree with others ! A pure example of arrogance at it's very best!
K Sciberras
May 6th 2010, 08:50
"Replying to questions in Parliament by Nationalist MP Franco Debono, the minister explained that emission levels were set by law and were therefore mandatory. BWSC was obliged to take all measures to observe them. Should the limits not be respected, the plant equipment would ‘not be accepted'."
Well once its built, up and running and paid for do you think the contractors realy care? Isn't this a prototype? So in actuality they are testing it and hiccups can be expected!
r ferriggi
May 6th 2010, 08:39
by the way,,,,,
does this contract have anything which is clear and fully accounted for!?!?!?!?
up to now,,,,,,,,nothing seems to have been done right in it!!! or about it!!!!
D. Scerri
May 6th 2010, 08:37
"the plant equipment would not be accepted"...what will they do? Dismantle it and find something better? Please do not mock us so outright!
C. Muscat
May 6th 2010, 08:25
The matter is becoming more suspicious. Whoever signed the contract and who approved the contract should be held responsible for the outcome and results. If as a citizen I am paying for these works, I am to be informed about what I am paying. The contractors signed with a country representatives and th country is duty bound to know the contract and the clauses. The persons signing should state whether they are personally responsible or whether they are representatives as this should be the issue re liabilities.
What a parliament we have if they are to debate something not known to the members????
Lewis Ellul
May 6th 2010, 08:05
Aktar ma jiftah halqu fuq din il-kwistjoni l-Ministru Fenech, aktar johrog fil-berah it-tbazwir u l-inkompetenza (sakemm ma kienx hemm affarijiet ohra!) ta' min ghamel dan il-kuntratt. Sitwazzjoni tal-misthija li ghandha thammar wicc il-gvern, u l-poplu jistenna li l-PM jara li min zbalja jhallas.
Joe Micallef
May 6th 2010, 08:56
Spjegalna Profs! per ezempju lest thallas 30% aktar fuq il-kont gholi li diga inhallsu?.
S Borg
May 6th 2010, 10:44
Mr Micallef are you ready to pay with your health so that those who signed this contract for their benefit and not for yours or mine get away with it. So please don't be ridiculous.
T Camilleri
May 6th 2010, 10:51
Sur Profs Joe Micallef, lest li tirvina sahhtek u sahhet uliedek u tħallas ħafna iktar għal saħħtek basta ma tħallasx iktar għall-elettriku? U x'se jsir mill-iskart velenuz jekk ħadd ma jkun irid jieħdu? U x'jiġri jekk mhux l-iskart velenuz kollu jinqabad u joħroġ mic-cmieni u tibilgħu int u uliedek? Ghidilna sur Profs Joe Micallef.
E.Borg
May 6th 2010, 07:55
MIN IFFIRMAH DAN?