Two air filters at Marsa power station out of order

Two air filters at the Marsa power station are out of order, one of which throwing a whole boiler out of use.

The precipitator over boiler No. 6 is being repaired and for the time being the boiler at the ageing power station is not being used.

Meanwhile, part of the precipitator over boiler No. 8 developed an internal fault but Enemalta has assured the environment and planning authority that the remaining five zones of the precipitator are working normally and emissions remained well within permitted limits.

“The faulty zone will be repaired at the earliest opportunity, load and other commitments permitting,” the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said.

Precipitators collect dust ­generated by the fuel combustion process, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

Last year, one of the boilers at the power station had been puffing out unfiltered emissions into the sky for seven months after its filtering system was switched off. This had coincided with a rise in complaints from residents in the Fgura area over black dust deposited on rooftops, balconies and cars.

Mepa is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as they become available.

In 2008, the EU gave the Marsa power station a 20,000 hour derogation after which the plant had to be closed down.