The decision to use heavy fuel oil rather than gasoil at the new power station extension in Delimara was taken before the public consultation period was over, according to environmentalist Edward Mallia.
Decision to use gasoil was taken before consultation with the public
The former University lecturer was speaking yesterday during a press conference held by the Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġa and Żejtun councils, which commissioned a report on the application filed by Enemalta to amend the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permit of Delimara power station to include an extension of eight diesel engines.
The planning authority’s Environment Protection Directorate is processing Enemalta’s application to ensure that EU emission limitsare respected. The local councils said they had 30 days to presenttheir report as part of the publicconsultation exercise.
Dr Mallia, who forms part of the team of experts commissioned by the local councils, said Enemalta had already decided to use heavy fuel oil, and a de-sulphuriser was installed at the power station. This would only be needed if the power station was to run on heavy fuel oil.
The team insisted that the alternative – gasoil (diesel) – would not only be more economically viable, but also more environmentally-friendly. The local councils said the “permit process was defective”. They added that the studies submitted for their consideration should have been available before the tendering stage for the equipment required at the power station extension.
“As things stand at the moment, Enemalta has selected its preferred equipment irrespective of the decision still to be taken by Mepa on the IPPC permit application,” they said in their joint statement.
Engineer Arthur Ciantar said PM2.5 is a pollutant which leaves a negative impact on public health. He insisted that Enemalta itself predicted that dust emissions from gasoil would result in approximately a 40 per cent decrease in particulate emissions compared with heavy fuel oil.
Consultant Jason Bonnici said studies showed that fine dust pollution increased mortality rates and caused respiratory and cardiovascular problems, leading to an increase in public health expenditure.
They also expressed concern over current emissions of particulate matter from the Delimara power station, which would get worse if the new plant ran on heavy fuel oil (HFO).
Żejtun mayor Joe Attard expressed concern about the transportation of such waste, which would pass through Tal-Barrani Road, Gudja and Ħal-Far, posing a risk to residents, when it would have been wiser to transport this by sea.
Between April 18 and May 16, an air-monitoring station at Marsaxlokk commissioned by Mepa measured a daily average of more than double the maximum limit of exposure to Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 set by the EU directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.
The team pointed out that considering all costs, running the plant on gasoil would not result in higher electricity bills.
Last month, the Marsaxlokk council filed a judicial protest against Enemalta claiming it had “founded doubts” that the last two chimneys constructed at the Delimara power station were built illegally. Enemalta denied the claim and said the extension was being developed following the Full Development Permit granted by Mepa in 2010.
In a statement last night, the Investments Ministry said the choice for the power station extension was carried out with environmental considerations in mind.
“The choice was the best environmental choice with the least possible expenses, so much so that emissions are based on Germany’s standards. This was confirmedfollowing investigations by the Auditor General and the European Commission.”
Furthermore, Enemalta constantly monitors air emissions from the plant, and results are freely available online, the ministry said.