Calls for the publication of the full reports on the safety aspects of the proposed gas-fired power plant in Delimara were made yesterday by the Opposition, Alternattiva Demokratika and Din l-Art Ħelwa.

This followed the announcement made by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, which informed the planning authority that the risks would be very low.

The safety watchdog based its conclusion on a study it commissioned from Greek consultant and Seveso Directive expert George Papadakis.

The Nationalist Party noted that the documentation published so far was very skimpy and called for the publication of the Papadakis report as well as any other correspondence with external consultants. It said that no further applications on the project should be considered prior the publication of the reports.

The Opposition noted that the supposedly autonomous OHSA was, in fact, under the responsibility of government MP Deo Grech.

On its part, AD announced it had formally asked the chief executive of OHSA for a copy of the Papadakis report in terms of the Seveso Directive.

It deplored the fact only parts of reports on the project had been leaked while remarking the public had a right for all the information available on the plant because its safety was of utmost importance.

Environment NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa also expressed concern about the project, saying other options for the possible location of the required gas storage tanker at Delimara had not been assessed in detail.

It said the planning authority was racing to meet deadlines as it was ready to accept the siting of the plant inside the bay even before the presentation of all risk assessment reports.

It noted that both the nautical risk assessment and the harbour risk assessment were still not available.

DLĦ said the environmental impact statement had confirmed that the gas storage tanker would have a major negative visual impact in the bay.

It noted that this could be avoided if the tanker was located outside the bay.