Kurt Sansone, Matthew Xuereb
No intention to close Marsa power plant for now – Tonio Fenech
The government will not be shutting down the Marsa power station completely before 2013 despite three of the four plants there having surpassed the 20,000 operational hours allowed by the EU.
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech yesterday said the derogation Malta had obtained from the EU could not be extended but the government was making its case with the European Commission that Enemalta had taken measures to reduce emissions.
However, the Labour Party yesterday insisted it did not trust Enemalta’s efforts to reduce emissions.
The Marsa power station will be completely shut down in 2013 when the interconnector cable links Malta to the European energy grid.
Mr Fenech said half the Marsa plant will be shut down in mid-2012 when the extension to the Delimara power station is expected to be ready.
In the meantime, he said Enemalta had taken a number of measures to reduce emissions although he admitted that some were still above the allowed limits.
In a strong reaction to the news that the Marsa power station had exceeded its time limit, the Labour Party said it could not trust Enemalta on its claim that it would implement more abatement measures since the planning authority had already deemed the abatement measures currently in force as “insufficient”.
Addressing a press conference outside the Marsa plant Environment spokesman Leo Brincat, who was accompanied by Labour MPs Evarist Bartolo and Joe Mizzi, produced a confidential memo sent on June 6 by the planning authority’s chief executive Ian Stafrace to officers at Hexagon House, Malta Environment and Planning Authority chairman Austin Walker and Environment Protection director Petra Bianchi on the authority’s actions regarding foul smells in Marsa.
One of the issues Dr Stafrace raised in the memo was the Marsa power station, which included a tank farm where certain abatement measures had to be taken to reduce foul smells according to the environment permit issued in 2010.
Dr Stafrace said: “On review of this permit, Mepa has deemed such abatement as being insufficient and is requesting Enemalta to install further abatement measures.”
On the basis of this, Mr Brincat added, Enemalta could not be trusted when it said it would increase abatement measures to mitigate the fact that three of its plants had surpassed the 20,000 hours limit.
The spokesman said Malta had an energy crisis with an environmental and financial cost, which the public would have to shoulder.
Mr Brincat said that in the absence of a national energy plan the Delimara power station extension was delayed because of government’s lack of planning and mismanagement over the years.
In a statement issued on Thursday Enemalta blamed the PL’s “protests and objections” during the tendering and planning process for the delay in the controversial Delimara power station extension. The charge was repeated yesterday by Mr Fenech.
But in a pointed reaction, Mr Bartolo, who had raised the controversy over the contract awarded to Danish company BWSC, said Enemalta “had the cheek” to blame Labour for the delay.
“First of all it is unacceptable that a public corporation like Enemalta blames the PL for the delays in the commissioning of the Delimara power station extension and secondly despite Labour’s objections work on the extension was never held back or stopped,” Mr Bartolo said.
The Delimara extension process started in February 2005, he added, and it took the government 33 months to change the law that regulated emissions in such a way that would eventually allow BWSC to participate in the tendering process with diesel engines running on heavy fuel oil.
During this time frame, Mr Bartolo said, the government had also changed its policy to have the extension operating on heavy fuel oil instead of gas.
He quoted from a confidential Enemalta dossier that was drawn up in March 2008 in which then chief executive David Spiteri Gingell had admitted that the extension was already late.
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Mr B Borg
Jul 31st 2011, 07:46
Vision 2015?
Diana Borg Cardona
Jul 31st 2011, 01:27
Reading about the Marsa power station being over stretched and going above the limit of operational hours permitted by the EU, I would love to know how come MEPA are allowing yet more permits for massive developments of Apartment blocks. Just taking the Tigne/Manoel Island project, which is not yet completed and now there is talk of a new one where the old Union Club used to be. How can the power plants then cope with all the extra electricity consumption that these developments will necessitate? Not forgetting the infrastructure for water and drainage.
Can anyone possibly anser this?
Mr Robert Calafato
Jul 30th 2011, 21:06
So that obsolete " piece of junk" acquired for " free" from Palermo, dismantled and reassembled by those "devil" of Malta Dry-dock workers is still functioning!!! Praise be the Lord
Mr Dave Smith
Jul 30th 2011, 17:54
For all of you have seen and remember the film Short Circuit may I now misquote "NO disassemble Boiler Number 7"
Jean Pierre Fava
Jul 30th 2011, 17:30
Philip Hili
Who do you care about most, the health of your close ones and fellow citizens or the "health" of your masters? Have you any idea of how hazardous to health such power plant emissions are? Are you aware that acute and chronic respiratory disease/conditions (and other) in Malta is quite a serious matter? I suppose that igronance is bliss and submission is endemic.
Philip Hili
Aug 1st 2011, 13:57
@ Jean Pierre Fava
Dear mr Fava,
You missed my point. Now if it was done purposely please note that in this case you ought not to divert my line of thinking from the actual argument I wanted to put. I presume that you understand what I wanted to bring to the attention of the competent authorities. But if it was because you did not get my point, then " igronance is bliss and submission is endemic."
At no point in time I preferred health hazard to anything else as expressed by you in your above comment.
My comment was only to draw the attention of he who is responsible so that confidential material does not ended up where it should not end in this case in Leo Brincat's possession.
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jul 30th 2011, 17:13
If Malta deserves five years of Labour rule so that it will value more Nationalist Governments. Then the next election vote Labour. As simple as that.
Philip Hili
Jul 30th 2011, 16:25
"Addressing a press conference outside the Marsa plant Environment spokesman Leo Brincat, who was accompanied by Labour MPs Evarist Bartolo and Joe Mizzi, produced a confidential memo sent on June 6 by the planning authority’s chief executive Ian Stafrace to officers at Hexagon House, Malta Environment and Planning Authority chairman Austin Walker and Environment Protection director Petra Bianchi on the authority’s actions regarding foul smells in Marsa."
Can the authorities concerned find out and explain to the public who!! was the person who gave Mr Leo Brincat "a confidential memo sent on June 6 by the planning authority’s chief executive Ian Stafrace" and if deemed fit disciplinary action be taken against the culprit?
A few day ago, lawyer for the Engerers filed a court protest on the grounds that police information had been leaked to this newspaper. Is this not a same case where confidential memo which belongs to the MEPA only were passed to the opposition spokesman by someone who has an interest in this matter?
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 30th 2011, 23:36
Ever heard of the public interest Hili?
Mr Kevin Sciberras
Jul 31st 2011, 03:18
What ever happened to the Whistle Blowers Act?
Philip Hili
Aug 1st 2011, 14:00
@ Mr Tony Camilleri,
Yes, I have heard.
Now my answer to Mr. Jean Pierre Fava's contribution, - vide above, applies to you, Mr. Camilleri.
Tonio Bone
Jul 30th 2011, 16:01
The issue here is a repetition of many instances of bad planning and shortsightedness. The problem in Malta is not the PN or the PL. It's both of them!
It's incredible that after having decided to go for a new power station, and so many years down the line, we have to continue using what is deemed to be an antiquated, ultra-polluting, inefficient, unreliable and expensive to maintain power plant that should have been closed ages ago!
For a lay man like me, this is incomprehensible. I'm bemused by the notion that we now have to wait for the completion of the extention at the power station and the finalisation of the inter-connector for the Marsa Power Plant to be finally closed!
The question is, if the EU persists in imposing fines for our infringement, will this 'fine' be turned over to the taxpayer? I have the impression that no one will be held accountable for what led to this situation!
Shame that in a country of this size and with a political system and culture that practically allows the government to do anything at will we are not able to address such issues efficiently, cost-effectively and in a timely manner.
Mario Grima
Jul 30th 2011, 13:31
@Angus Black
Yes to ST Electronics, yes to BOV, yes to high percentage of house owners, yes to woman's vote, yes to social services, yes to AirMalta, yes to pensions, yes to reducion of school leavers, yes to minimum wage, yes to full employment, yes to full country's coffers, yes to German foreign investments, yes to high standard of living................. All these yeses were achieved under Labour governements.
No to shady contracts to blue eyed boys, no to secret €500 weekly payrises to the PM and his cabinet, no to potholes, no to shabby patching up of bad roads, no to corruption, no to the country's empty coffers, no to wage freezes, no to closure of SeaMalta, no to sale of Mid-Med for a paultry 80 million, no to arrogance, no to voting against the people's wish, no to sale of country's cash cows, no to non-closure of Marsa power station, no to disregard of energy alternatives, no to be treated as 2nd class citizens by EU. No to unemployment, a BIG NO to non-existant bus service, No to BUZULLOTTI ............ This is what PN governements have achieved.
Malta deserves to be governed by a team of honest politicians and not by a bunch of incompetents who are only interested to keep the power seat
Mr Jesmond Galea
Jul 31st 2011, 08:04
one particular Maltese DOM saviour back in the 70's and 80's once said...I wish I was capable to create as much jobs as I am capable to get money to Malta. does that indicate full employment???
we all remember in the 70's and the 80's having to go abroad to get basic items such as tootpaste, chocolate etc etc. we all, well at least most of us, remember the situation we were in when we had no computers, no coloured tv, no mobile phones etc etc etc... does that indicate high standard of living???
good sense of humour mr grima :)
Mr mario gellel
Jul 30th 2011, 12:59
THERE WAS ONLY ONE PLAN, GET RICH FROM THE POOR.
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jul 30th 2011, 12:46
If Malta deserves five years of Labour rule so that it will value more Nationalsit Governments. Then the next election vote Labour. It's as simple as that!!
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jul 30th 2011, 12:37
I am not living in a E.U. country but I am living in a Third World country.
During the referendum for the E.U. I was promised that such inefficiency by the government will not happen.
I am living in an area surrounded with black dust and not fresh air.
I have had enough broken promises, empty words, diskors fil-vojt, e parole senza sustanza!!
Marco Meli
Jul 30th 2011, 11:58
@ joseph saliba below : let me qoute you from a magazine i have always handy when the issue of the powerstation comes up " fil kas tal powerstation tal marsa ma tistax tkompli traqqa l pannu bil qara ahmar" and " kien inxtara makkinarju antik u skadut" magazine pajjizna 1986. Now, 25 years after we are still depending on that same "old and obsolete" machinery which was bought second hand by a labour goverment. I think it was definetly a good piece of machinery if it was absolete 25 years ago and still pumps up most of the electricity on our islands. Just stop lamenting about the labour party, it's the pn fault if we ended up in this BIG MESS.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 30th 2011, 11:57
L-importanti li il-BWSC ghamlu xalata minn fuq darna, mar tajjeb is-sur Mizzi u il-poplu ihallas min imnihru.
U issa gej Tonio Fenech jaghtina il-loqom bzar fl-ghanejn u wara li tefa' fil-but 500 Euro fil-gimgha mit-2008.
Mr J Busuttil
Jul 30th 2011, 13:25
Lawrence kemm mar tajjeb is Sur Mizzi? ghandek prova? Lanqas nitfa. Like the PL just talk no proof. the €500 you are talking about are the ones that Joe Mizzi and Dr Vella knew about all along? Are they the moneys that the ex Labour parliamentaries wanted to be give. As usual dejjem titkellem ghall gallerija
Mr Pawlu Agius
Jul 30th 2011, 13:40
Ix-xalata tal-BWSC ghad trid tigi ghax veru li bhala impjant kien l-irhas wiehed kemm biex tinstalla u biex thaddem, izda mbaghad ghandhekk hafna spejjez ta' manteniment, miljuni fis-sena.
Mr Jo Camm
Jul 30th 2011, 11:28
If the PL wants the Marsa Power station to close down, they should wait untill after the election and then they may close it down themselves on the first day they are in power (as they are hoping to be).
Tiskanta kemm hawn min ihobb il-poplu, l-ewwel ifixklu l-Gvern milli jkompli jespandi l-power station ta' Delimara, imbaghad meta ma rnexxilhomx izommuh qed jitolbu li tinghalaq dak tal Marsa.
Tamin jovvotalkom tassew!
G K
Jul 30th 2011, 21:11
The Government chose to install a very polluting Station at Delimara....the sort of station you would find in third world countries, or even worse than them. And the PN government had been promising us the closure of the Marsa Station for quite a long time so saying its the PL's fault doesn't make sense. Its about time the government starts to take care of the resident's health! If the Marsa Power Station pollutes more than the EU quota it should be closed down asap! The government didn't make the required decisions and now, still, the people are suffering and will suffer more due to the government's incompetence (black dust and toxic gases and the possible EU fines coming up)
E. Azzopardi
Jul 30th 2011, 11:20
Never make a promise you cannot keep. Now who is running the country? I cannot believe that the government is blaming the Opposition or anybody else for that matter. This is very childish. If, as it is alleged, the Opposition delayed the Delimara Station, then I repeat, who is running the country? Inexcusable and unacceptable.
Christian Sciberras
Jul 30th 2011, 14:19
E. Azzopardi, ironically enough, it's the people that *should* be running the country.
Mr joseph saliba
Jul 30th 2011, 11:10
From my experience 't would have been better had the LP ruled let's say the last 10 years. No EU would have penalised us for not closing the Marsa power station. We could have done without the Delimara extension. And, I bet, the country's energy demand would not have been so high. No ruler to measure EU standards. How's that for management?! PL no crisis. No progress?!
Mr Angus Black
Jul 30th 2011, 12:21
Add - No road improvements - No Smartcity - no Lufthansa Technic - No SR technic - Yes govt subsidies to Shipyards - Sea Malta - No money for restorations to fortifications - Yes, higher unemployment -No foreign investments - No new schools.
No EU funds to make it possible to bring Malta to the 21st century. The LP is always finding new ways to p**s off the public.
Doom and gloom simply does not attract the floating voter. Malta deserves five years of Labour rule so that it will value more Nationalist governments.
Mr W Cassar
Jul 30th 2011, 15:17
I will never value GonziPN! ...We regressed under him!
Floating Voter!
Mr Jeffrey Mallia
Jul 30th 2011, 15:38
MR Black you forgot to add........no Mater dei...which took 15 years to built plus 350 million off budgit, and 2 years waiting list........no bunkrupt of Airmalta....no bunkrupt of seamalta.........no Buzullotti and mayham by Arriva.........no smart city which was suppose to emloy 6000 people........no brand new power station which runs on heavy fuel oil........no Cirkewwa terminal which was suppose to be ready 10 years ago..........no give away of Midmed bank.........no elect / water bills that nobody can afford ( exept you ) no 1 tenth national insurance ( bolla balla ) no 35% income tax !!!!! no social services...........no retiring at 65..........no outright corruption..............and finally no 5 billion national debt............ghax ajjejt nikteb :)
Mr Joe Gatt
Jul 30th 2011, 09:51
`Finance Minister Tonio Fenech yesterday said the derogation Malta had obtained from the EU could not be extended but the government was making its case with the European Commission `
ACCOUNTABILITY.
European States should not and must not default on their Debt payments, but they do, and we are obliged to bail them out too.
Any Country, Malta included, cannot function without electrical energy, so it is not a question of shutting down Marsa.
On the other hand the Maltese Tax Payer must not be made to pay for someone`s Mismanagement, Those responsible must be held to account. These individuals are being paid Top Tax Euro, not to screw things up, but seem to be doing so most of the Time.
A serious and impartial Board of Inquiry should be set up, and harsh action taken.
Mr Alex Ellul
Jul 30th 2011, 08:58
Happy will all be once this power staion stops pumping pollution into the atmosphere. But unhappy we will all be if it fails for one single hour, as somtimes happens.
Mr Peter Murray
Jul 30th 2011, 08:18
their was "no intention" to lose jobs at Air Malta or the Selmun Palace Hotel and we all know what the road to hell is paved with.
Andrew Pace
Jul 30th 2011, 23:12
And your point is? The article is the Marsa power station, not a continuation of the Air Malta 'saga'........... or are you trying to make a political point?