The Planning Authoirty's environment directorate is proposing a nine-month environmental permit - also known as the IPPC - for the operation of the extension of the Delimara power station.
The nine-months will enable a committee to monitor the operations of the plant amid complaints that the heavy fuel it will use will cause harmful emissions and produce tons of waste.
The directorate is proposing that the monitoring committee should be made up of Environment Director Petra Bianchi and representatives of Enemalta and a representative of the various objectors.
In a media briefing this afternoon, Mepa CEO Ian Stafrace explained that the permit for the extension will be an amendment to the original IPPC permit issued for the entire plant.
He said that very detailed feedback was given during the public consultation which ended on October 7. The feedback, he said, included very high quality technical reports which challenged the submissions made by Enemalta.
Mepa, he said, is uploading on its website the draft conditions proposed for the operation of the extension, a cost analysis report submitted by Enemalta and all the feedback and replies given to the feedback made during the consultation process.
It is also publishing a report by the Environment Protection Directorate.
The proposed draft condition will allow the generation of electricity using two types of fuel, heavy fuel and diesel. If the former is used, the sulphur content cannot exceed 10 kilograms for every tonne of fuel. By the end of December 2012 Enemalta will have to submit a feasibility study on the conversion of the Delimara power station to various gas fuel options, including liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, and natural gas.
Furthermore, if heavy fuel oil is used, ambient air quality tests have to be carried out regularly by the monitoring committee which will evaluate whether heavy fuel oil can continue to be used or not.
Dr Bianchi explained that Enemalta had submitted a cost-impact analysis comparing the cost of operating the extension using diesel or heavy fuel oil. The analysis indicated that using diesel and taking into account fuel waste management and maintenance would lea to an increase of about €20m in running costs over an eight-month period. The analysis estimated that this would translate into a 10% increase in power tariffs.
The board hearing which will decide whether or not to grant the permit will be held on December 5 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.