The planning authority is recommending a second extension to the environmental permit of Delimara power station’s controversial annexe, to give more time for consultants to complete their report.
Known as Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), the amended permit would eventually allow Enemalta to use the highly contested and polluting heavy fuel oil for another nine months until March 2014. Once expired, the permit has to be renewed.
According to the permit’s conditions, Enemalta has to carry out air monitoring and the data has to be assessed by an independent consultant appointed by a specific monitoring committee.
Based on the consultant’s report, the planning authority would decide whether heavy fuel oil could continue to be used or whether it would be restricted to gasoil.
Chaired by the planning authority, the committee includes a representative of the four local councils in the area, Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġa, Żejtun and Għaxaq, an Enemalta representative and consultants Air Quality Management Resource Centre, at the University of the West of England.
The planning authority said yesterday the consultants required at least six months’ monitoring data with the extension in full operation.
The commissioning of the diesel engines was completed in December 2012. The first environment permit was approved in December 2011 and in July 2012 the timeframe was extended by nine months.
The consultants have prepared a report including data taken before the extension was fully commissioned to provide a baseline for the analysis.
Due to the extent of data required by the independent air quality consultants “it will not be possible for the consolidated report to be finalised in time for a decision to be taken by the authority in June,” the authority said.
The authority was recommending that a condition in the permit should be revised to extend the timeframe to no later than end March 2014.
The public consultation document and the baseline report are available on the planning authority’s website at www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation. Feedback will be received until July 28.