Planning authority officials are under “undue pressure” after two chimneys were built without a permit at the Delimara power station extension, according to Labour environment spokesman Leo Brincat.

He said it was unfair to expect officials of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to clamp down on Enemalta, a government entity, and called on Environment Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco to shoulder the political responsibility for the matter.

Addressing journalists on the Marsaxlokk promenade, Mr Brincat, accompanied by Marsaxlokk deputy mayor Edric Micallef, said that when Mepa approved the full development permit for the power station the height of the chimneys was considered “a reserved matter” pending the conclusion of a more in-depth study of emissions.

The construction at Delimara is at an advanced stage and the chimneys have been erected at a height of 65 metres, which is what Enemalta had wanted in the first place.

Mr Micallef said the in-depth study on emissions was only concluded this month and the local council only received a copy last week.

The planning authority is receiving submissions from the public on the conditions of the environment permit, which will regulate the power station’s operation. The consultation process will close at the end of the month.

The integrated pollution prevention control permit is the last step in a long-winded planning process before the power station becomes operational. The height of the chimneys has to be determined as part of this process.

In its reaction, the government insisted that the planning permit granted in 2009 had covered the construction of the chimneys but left the height issue open.

The government confirmed that the height of the chimneys had to be determined by the IPPC permit process and accused the Labour Party of undermining the ongoing consultation process.

The government reiterated its commitment to have a power station in line with the highest European environmental standards.

Mr Micallef said that the original emission calculations submitted by Enemalta only took into account sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide gases, which dispersed relatively quickly. Dust and soot particles, which were heavier and, therefore, more liable to settle in the vicinity, he added, were not considered. He reiterated the council’s opposition to the use of heavy fuel oil, which caused more pollution and volumes of hazardous waste than diesel.

Mr Brincat also raised the issue concerning the cancellation of a tender for air purifying systems for the already-existing Delimara power station. He asked the government to explain why it had withdrawn the tender when a number of bidders had submitted their proposals.