The Mepa board this afternoon granted Enemalta an extension of its environmental permit to continue using heavy fuel oil for the BWSC power plant until it is converted to gas next year.

The current permit, which expires on Monday, had been extended to December next year.

The board heard the Environment Directorate saying that three-month post-commissioning reports produced in June and December last year did not indicate that the power station had contributed to any emissions exceeding EU limit values.

The recorded exceedances of the daily mean limit were attributed to regional sources, sometimes specifically to Saharan dust events, or more localised events associated with wind directions other than from the direction of the power station.

The air quality resource centre of the University of West England compiled the air quality reports.

Duncan Hall, the executive secretary of Marsaxlokk local council, said the council preferred if the plant is converted to gas oil in order to reduce emissions.

Engineer Anthony Ciantar, commissioned by the same council, said that although the air quality monitoring showed no or limited emissions which could be attributed to the plant, residents keep finding deposits of black dust on their roofs. He questioned the results of this monitoring exercise, saying there were substantial gaps in between readings.

The council's position on the matter "was overtaken by events" as the plant will be converted to gas next year. Nationalist Party representative on the board, Ryan Callus, explained that he would be voting against the extension because of a political commitment which had been made that the plant would be converted to gas oil from heavy fuel oil. It was extended by ten votes in favour and one against.