The probability of a liquefied natural gas storage facility leak is small, but an international chemical expert said consequences of an accident would be “disastrous”.
It is much safer to place the gas storage facilities related to the gas-fired power station out at sea rather than inside the Marsaxlokk port as is being proposed by the government, said Hans Pasman, a research professor at the Texas A&M University and a chemical engineer with 42 years experience in the field.
Prof. Pasman’s analyses significantly clash with the conclusions of the studies commissioned by the Maltese authorities on the controversial project.
He questioned the risk assessment studies made so far by the authorities and said further assessments are necessary before a final decision is taken.
Prof. Pasman, who is also acting as a consultant for NGO Din L-Art Ħelwa, was speaking to The Sunday Times of Malta following the publication of the planning authority’s conclusions of the environment impact study.
Prof. Pasman explained that a possible gas cloud from a hole of 0.78 square metres, as opposed to 0.2 square metres cited in the Maltese report, would be 2.3 km long and 1.5 km wide.
The Dutch expert said that with a slow southern wind blowing inland into Marsaxlokk, this cloud could drift hundreds of metres to the south reaching up to Villa Sans Souci – that is all of Marsaxlokk and beyond (see map).
If this cloud is ignited it will kill all the people in the flame and may have a blast effect categorised as being 50 per cent lethal
“If this cloud is ignited – and this can literally happen by just a cigarette – it will kill all the people in the flame and may have a blast effect categorised as being 50 per cent lethal. This means that dwelling walls will collapse and windows shatter hundreds of metres in the distance, also with fatalities,” he insisted.
Prof. Pasman argued that with these distances and with such a relatively small hole in one of the tanks on the storage tanker, not only will residents’ lives be at risk but “the power station will be fully destroyed”.
According to the LNG risk, Mepa has ignored the “domino effect” issue resulting from one accident triggering another.
“This domino effect analysis is not only a requirement of the Seveso directive but it has also been experienced in Cyprus when a hazardous storage of explosives was stored near a brand new power station.
“The storage exploded, blowing with it a significant part of the power station, leaving Cyprus struggling with an economic crisis in the wake of this accident,” he said.
Last week, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority approved the project from a risk point of view, stating studies found there is no significant risk with the LNG storage facilities being adjacent to the new power plant.
The OHSA published a study by Greek expert George Papadakis that concluded safety risks from a gas storage tanker are within acceptable levels and procedures can minimise the possibility of an accident.
The environment impact assessment (EIA) carried out for Mepa also clears the project. However, according to the study, all three in-port options presented by the government pose a risk if a gas cloud escaped the storage facility, due to its proximity to the plant.
“The comparison between the three options using the extension of the gas cloud contour, demonstrates that for the three options a flammable gas cloud can travel to the Delimara power station and possibly find an ignition point,” the study states.
According to the EIA for Enemalta, the project’s proposers, a survey of Marsaxlokk residents showed 91 per cent want the LNG tanker to be moored outside the port.
Meanwhile, PN MEP candidate Stefano Mallia yesterday said the government is forging ahead with plans to have a floating storage unit permanently moored at Delimara without addressing key safety aspects.
Addressing a news conference in Marsaxlokk, Mr Mallia said that following questions filed on his behalf by PN MP George Pullicino, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi admitted that the model used for the environmental impact statement did not reflect the topography of the area.
It transpired that no risk assessment study about the possibility of collision at sea in the vicinity of the proposed gas-powered plant had been commissioned, Mr Mallia said.
He added that the proposed measure to limit the speed of vessels entering Marsaxlokk harbour to minimise the risks of collision would have no impact in reality as the velocity in ports was already minimal. The PN candidate also criticised the lack of a maritime impact study for this project.
Also yesterday, Alternattiva Demokratika demanded that all gas risk studies should be made public as deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo said the Papadakis report hinted it formed part of a wider study.
Mr Cacopardo asked: “Does this mean there exists a more detailed study explaining the questions arising from [the] preliminary risk assessment?”
AD chairman Arnold Cassola insisted the worries expressed by Marsaxlokk residents make it even more necessary to have all the reports made public.