Enemalta exceeded emission limits as stipulated in the National Emission Ceiling for last year, according to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Mepa said it asked Enemalta to submit a detailed plan showing how it would ensure compliance this year.

The limits, stipulated by a European Commission directive, are allocated among the biggest known pollutants of different member states and became applicable last year. Malta’s targets include a sulphur dioxide ceiling of 9,000 tonnes, of which 8,000 tonnes were allocated to the energy generation sector. For nitrogen oxides, the national ceiling was 8,000 tonnes, 4,500 tonnes of which were allocated to the energy sector.

“These limits were agreed between Enemalta and Mepa and were also set in the respective environmental permits (IPPC) for Marsa and Delimara power stations,” the planning authority said.

But through the Marsa and Delimara power stations, Enemalta emitted 8,140 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 5,082 tonnes of nitrogen oxides in 2010.

“Exceeding these limits is in violation of IPPC permits the authority had given for both power stations. Mepa is evaluating the situation,” the authority added.

Meanwhile, the government said it was committed to cutting emissions, primarily through the closure of Marsa and the extension of the Delimara power station, which would follow the best European standards, reaching German levels. This technology would transform emissions into waste, which could then be exported, the government added. The Sicily-Malta interconnector would also help achieve cleaner energy, the government said, adding emissions rates were public and could be accessed electronical