Update 2: PL demands political responsibility for emissions breach
Adds PN, government's reaction - The Labour Party insisted today that the government should assume political responsibility for the fact that the two power stations had exceeded the sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission levels set by the EU.
Environment spokesman Leo Brincat and Energy spokesman Joe Mizzi said the EU's national emissions ceiling directive had been breached even though the government had boasted that it was using fuel with less sulphur content.
It was insulting, the spokesmen said, that instead of shouldering its responsibilities, the government had only said that the issue would be solved once the power station was extended and Marsa power station was closed.
The government said yesterday that the closure of the Marsa power station and the commissioning of the power cable link to the European grid would mean that Malta would have cleaner energy. It said that the emission standards of the power station extension would be the same as in Germany.
The spokesman said that while the power station extension was highly controversial, the people expected immediate action to resolve the current problem rather than indifference on an issue which had health implications.
PN SAYS LABOUR OPPOSES CLEAN AIR INITIATIVES
The Nationalist Party in a reaction said the Labour Party had a history of opposing initiatives which reduced air pollution.
It noted that the PL was opposing the extension of the power station. It had opposed the modernisation of the waste treatment plant which also generated electricity, it had cautioned farmers against the setting up of wind farms near by, it had ridiculed the granting of energy saving lamps by the government, it had resisted the building of the waste transfer station in Xewkija and, were it for Labour, the Maghtab landfill would still be open.
GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TOWARDS CLEANER AIR
The government said that the government would be closing the Marsa plant which was a major source of pollution and invest in an extension to the Delimara plant, which would be working in line with the best European standards and an interconnector with Sicily.
Contrary to the impression the opposition tried to give, the government had also taken several initiatives to reduce emissions.
These included changing the fuel oil used at the power station to one containing 0.7 per cent of sulphur, against that used some years ago which had 3.5 per cent sulphur. Low NOx burners which reduced NOx emissions were installed, the combined cycle was being operated by steam injection and this year Enemalta was to continue working on the use of fuel combustion additives and other secondary measures which continued to reduce emissions.
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Gordon Pace
Feb 3rd 2011, 12:22
@ Mr. Paul Mallia
Sorry for taking so long..quite busy right now.
Its not a question of making fun about someone or something. Its reality. The way I see it, all citizens and any political party has the right to ask those taking decisions to be responsible for such.
However, while we can stop there, a political party, especially in our small island, cannot just stop there. And this is exactly what the PL has been doing for all this time. And hence the question...what are PLs policies ?
As regards to this comment of yours: "Ghaldaqstant ghandek tkun aktar attent kif tikkummenta ghax ma' tafx kif u meta u lill min ghad tigi bzonn." - are you really asking me to shut up ??
Suddenly I re-lived the mornings in which I had to hide the "In-Taghna" under The Times.....shiver shiver....
Gordon
l fenech
Feb 2nd 2011, 18:00
I'm alright puntini puntini puntini.
N.Cutajar
Feb 2nd 2011, 16:17
Jaqaw issa addio il korruzjoni tal power station?
Meta kien jahdem bil faham kollha kwieti kienu....issa fsald da l'ghageb u fissazjoni kollhu fuq arja nadifa,
bhal meta qal marridx nidhol flewropa u issa kul fejn imur imdawwar bil bnadar ta EU.
U kif ma qalux ha jnehhu il vat? jaqaw ghogbu ix xoghol?
M.Debono
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:53
Dear lejber, if we're all so poverty stricken with this gov just tell us exactly how you intend making us all extremely rich.....the more you waste your time complaining about every issue under the sun the more miracles you'll have to perform.
Edward Mallia
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:32
It is a fact that people like Minister Gatt did go in for a lot of boasting that we were using 0.7%sulphur HFO as proof of our dedication to improving air quality. What he did NOT say was that even with that quality of HFO, we were still exceeding EU limits on sulphur emissions; in fact the implications of his boasting what that we were doing better than EU limits. All that has now gone up in smoke. To get below EU limits we have to go in for expensive delsulphurisation and hazardous waste disposal of all of the Delimara extension output. Any failure there will be much more serious than a simple EU fine.
P.Cassar
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:22
A GOVT WHICH SPECIALISES IN MISMANAGENMENT AND INEFFICIENCY IN ALL FIELDS.
A PEOPLE PAYING CONTINUALLY FOR ALL THIS.
AND YET YOU FIND BIGOTS THAT SUPPORT SUCH GOINGS ON.
ENJOY.
A. Zahra
Feb 2nd 2011, 17:39
Yes we also have bigots who never see anything which this government does right. My must it always be foreigners who praise our government for the results it achieves.
J Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:50
Instead of putting spokes in the wheels of the new power station just sit quitely and let the government work to shut down the Marsa Power station and then the air will be clean. Your foolish accusations are falling on deaf ears. It's labhour which is obstructing clean air. Stop your shenanighans at the PAC and let's continue with our work.
J.Tonna
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:06
Don't you worry J.farrugia, the work on the power station extension is moving 'at the speed of light'. Ask Joseph.
Gordon Pace
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:49
Next week PL will demand political responsability for bad weather.
Paul Mallia
Feb 2nd 2011, 14:28
Sur Pace,
Iprova ifhem li dan qed isir ghalik u ghalija u ghal kulhadd. Ghandek ghalfejn tirredikola minflok tkun kostruttiv u tikrita kostruttivament?
Bil-PL fl-opposizzjoni xejn ma' jista jsir, imma jekk ikun fil-gvern ghandi nifhem li hemm sugu bizzejjed sabiex dan il-partit 1)jisma, 2)jahseb, 3)jizen u 4)jattiva dak li jhoss li hu tajjeb u f'postu.
Ghaldaqstant ghandek tkun aktar attent kif tikkummenta ghax ma' tafx kif u meta u lill min ghad tigi bzonn.
Hemm ragunijiet tajba ghaliex il-PL qed jagixxi b'dan il-mod u r-raguni maggura hija semplicement li l-flus li qed jintefqu m'humiex jintefqu bil-ghaqal. U meta tikkunsidra li Malta setghet kienet minn ta' quddiem fil-kaz tal-generazzjoni tal-elettriku nadif u dan ma' gara xejn minnu, imma Malta marret lura flok il-quddiem ghandi nifhem li veru hemm raguni ghaliex il-PL qed jaghmel hekk.
Sahhiet.
l fenech
Feb 2nd 2011, 18:03
Ghal kull taghffiga tal-gvern idahhlu lil-Joseph, iz-zmien itghina parir.
M. Mamo
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:27
Then if you really want fresh air for us citizens why don't you stop wasting our time with false accusations and let the power station extension to happen FAST before both outdated power stations run out and we are all doomed?!?
E Gatt
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:50
@ M. Mamo
Exactly. Efficiency may not always be Malta’s forte, but Partit tal-Le always makes it their mission to turn any project into an uphill battle and waste time ......then they’re first to moan and groan.
a spiteri
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:51
HAHAHAHAHAHA nice one eeeee, new power station = fresh air!! Hasra li l-ebda pajjiz fl-EU m'ghandu din it-tip ta power station, ghajdli imma dawk boloh u ahna l-genji!!
Stajt tajdilhom ukol biex ma jgergrux meta taghmel naqa xita u t-toroq taghna jerqu ghax hekk inkunu qed inadfu toroq bil-kuranti ta l-ilma!!!
Hahahahahaha nice one M.Mamo, ara vera l-politika tamik