The two Enemalta power stations in Marsa and Delimara have cut their carbon dioxide emissions by 140,000 tonnes in the last two years.
The figure is revealed in the latest report on verified emissions, which was passed on to Brussels by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority as required under the EU’s emissions trading scheme.
The report shows that, while in 2008 the two plants produced 2.02 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, in 2010 this was reduced to 1.87 million tonnes. Marsa last year produced 969,152 tonnes of carbon dioxide while Delimara produced 909,155.
This reduction is the result of a number of measures, introduced over the last few years, including the use of more expensive low-sulphur oil to fire the boilers and the installation of continuous flue gas emissions-monitoring instruments.
Other upgrades introduced recently include a €2 million upgrade of the chimneys and modifications to the current boilers at Delimara to reduce nitrogen oxide and dust emissions.
“Although emissions are still high, we are noting a genuine effort by Malta to reduce them,” Commission sources told The Times.
“The building of a new plant at Delimara using newer technology will definitely put Malta in line with the EU’s aim to lower its emissions by 20 per cent by the end of this decade,” the sources said.
Apart from the building of the €200 million extension at Delimara – which, although fired with diesel, can be converted to be fired by gas in the future once a pipeline is built – the Government is awaiting the EU’s approval to use €15 million in EU funds to refurbish a number of boilers in the Delimara plant so that they can use newer technology and pollute less. The Commission is expected to give its decision in a few weeks.
By the end of 2012, when these processes are expected to be concluded, Enemalta will be able to shut the Marsa plant, which was commissioned in 1953 using second-hand boilers and which is contributing highly to Malta’s emissions count.
EU member states are obliged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent on their 2005 emission levels.