A European Union report estimates that the two million tonnes of annual emissions from the Marsa and Delimara power plants represent a staggering €126 million annually in costs to our health and environment.

Mepa should turn down Enemalta’s request- Patrick Zahra, MD, Marsascala

So much for the repeated misleading reassurances from various government officials that the impact of the two power stations on our health is negligible.

Admittedly, the decommissioning of the Marsa plant will improve the situation, though the current administration’s insistence on powering the new plant with heavy fuel oil (HFO) will undoubtedly increase the health burden on those living in the densely populated south of the island.

While the Prime Minister and his entourage have been busy justifying dealings with blacklisted companies and defending the indefensible, it seems that European Commissioner John Dalli had come up with a suggested solution proposed by the Norwegian company Sargas, which could help alleviate the current serious situation; however, 18 months down the line we are still waiting for a technical report. This contrasts sharply with the speed and efficiency with which the BWSC proposal was handled; in fact, in an analogous timeframe we had all the necessary reports in place and the whole Cabinet bending over backwards to change the law so as to relax emissions criteria and thus render the BWSC bid possible.

Thus, from the promised gas-powered plant we ended up facing the risk of an HFO-powered plant. I believe the people at Sargas have a lot to learn on how business is done on this island; I suggest they go through the Auditor-General’s report and the testimony given by Joe Mizzi to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee; his silence speaks volumes on the allegations regarding the Delimara plant saga.

Further to the health and environmental aspect, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority recently commissioned a study on PM 2.5 levels in the Marsaxlokk and Birżebbuġa areas. The average levels of this proven carcinogen is 52.7 ug/m3 and 34 ug/m3 in Marsaxlokk and Birżebbuġa respectively. According to the EU’s Clean Air directive the average PM 2.5 should not exceed 25 ug/m3. Should Mepa give Enemalta the go-ahead to power the plant with HFO, PM 2.5 levels, which are already dangerously high, would rise even further. Mepa is legally and morally bound to do all it can to reduce particulate matter levels to acceptable limits so it should turn down Enemalta’s request.