The planned gas power station and its LNG floating storage tanker facility in Marsaxlokk Bay do not pose a serious health and safety risk, according to the conclusions of a preliminary study.
The study, commissioned by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, clears the way for possible approval by Mepa later on this month, following an environment impact assessment that has already given the project its blessing.
The report, drawn up by a Greek expert for the OHSA under the obligations of the EU’s Seveso directive – which deals with risks of dangerous industrial plants – found that safety risks from the gas storage tanker are within acceptable levels and procedures can be used to minimise the possibility of an accident.
Our experts did not find any major problems and the project is feasible from our end
Speaking to Times of Malta, the authority’s CEO Mark Gauci said that while such plants always pose a danger independent of their location, the study conducted shows the risks involved in this project were minimal and at acceptable levels.
Emphasising that this was a preliminary report, as its conclusions would need to be updated through plans submitted by the developers, Dr Gauci made it clear that from the authority’s point of view, the project could move ahead.
“We are obliged under EU rules to advise whether the project is acceptable from a risk point of view. Our experts did not find any major problems and the project is feasible from our end,” he said.
Asked whether this meant that an accident could not happen inside the port, with serious consequences for the populations of the villages close to the power station, Dr Gauci said no one could ever exclude such a possibility.
However, he said the project was viable as the risks were very minimal according to international standards. Risks could even be lessened further with the implementation of preventive measures.
On the question of whether it would be better for the storage tanker to be placed outside the port away from the electricity generation plant, Dr Gauci said the authority did not go into this aspect as this was not part of the existing proposal.
Following criticism from the Opposition that it had only published an annex to the report, the authority yesterday put online the full report by the Greek expert, George Papadakis.
While clearing the project, the OHSA recommended that Mepa should include certain conditions in the permit, including that the LNG facilities should be built according to current industry standards and best available techniques and that the operators have to submit a revised major accident prevention policy.
It also demanded a safety report within six months prior to the start of the operation. The operators should also be obliged to submit a revised internal emergency plan within four months of starting the operation.
The OHSA, an independent authority, is chaired by Deo Debattista, a government MP, and falls under the remit of the Health Ministry.