Chemicals experts are warning the authorities not to play with fire and to avoid the letting off of fireworks close to the new gas-fired power station in Delimara in future.
While Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Minister without Portfolio Konrad Mizzi attended a ceremony in Singapore yesterday to see off the new Floating Storage Unit (FSU) to be moored in Marsaxlokk Bay, experts said the accident last weekend in Marsaxlokk should be an eye opener.
The fishermen’s village was shaken last Saturday night when an explosion happened during the letting off of petards during the local feast celebrations. The fireworks were being let off from the Delimara area, close to where the new LNG-fired facility will be based.
“Although the risk of an accident related to the LNG power plant from fireworks is minimal, the letting off of petards from the area should be avoided,” chemical expert Alfred Vella, recently elected University Rector, told the Times of Malta.
“The power plant and the LNG facility should be safe even if some incident related to fireworks were to happen,” Prof. Vella insisted.
“However, if it were up to me, I would not take any risks and would apply the most cautious approach possible,” he said.
According to the chemicals expert, who has years of experience in the industry, there was a considerable distance between the place where the weekend accident happened and the site of the new LNG facility.
If there were a leak, which would form an invisible gas cloud, it would create a disaster for the south of Malta
However, he insisted that a risk assessment of the power station, including the new LNG facility, should be in place to ensure that no chances were taken.
Asked whether this risk assessment had been made, Prof. Vella said that he did not know.
Another expert, who did not wish to be named, was more direct in his replies. “The letting off of petards from Delimara should be stopped once the LNG vessel is in place. The government should not allow any more fireworks in the area, as the new facility poses a risk.
“If there were a leak, which would form an invisible gas cloud, it would create a disaster for the south of Malta. Although the risk is minimal, it can still happen.
“So why put matches next to a fire?” the expert asked.
When contacted, Marsaxlokk mayor Horace Gauci said that despite the accident he was not aware of any particular concerns over the presence of the LNG facility and the future of fireworks at his locality.
“I am not an expert in the field. However, as long as all rules are observed I have no problem with the continuation of the current practice,” he said.
Asked whether his council had commissioned any study on the issue, Mr Gauci said that he was not aware. “The permit of the plant was issued when I was not yet a mayor. However, we are open to any technical reports which might be conducted.”
Meanwhile, the new FSU should set off on its way to Malta shortly.
The Prime Minster, accompanied by Dr Mizzi and chief of staff Keith Schembri, has attended a ceremony at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore to launch the 30-year-old LNG tanker, which has been converted into a storage facility.
According to Dr Muscat, the LNG ship should arrive in Malta in September, but no new timelines were given regarding when the gas-fired power plant would become operational.
Despite the fact that the contract with the owners of the ship, Bumi Armada, is to keep the ship permanently moored in Delimara for 18 years and two months, Dr Muscat said this was a “temporary” facility until a gas pipeline with Sicily was in place.
According to the original plans, the new gas-fired power plant was to be operational by March 2015.
ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com