Updated 1.50 p.m.
The Mepa board this afternoon approved the granting of an outline development permit for the extension of the Delimara power station. All members of the board voted in favour except Labour Mr Roderick Galdes, who voted against.
Mr Galdes had earlier moved a motion for the board to postpone its decision, but he found no seconder.
The meeting of almost four hours, which was sometimes stormy, heard several calls to put off its decision.
Labour MP Leo Brincat said the decision should be postponed pending the Parliamentary debate on the Mepa reform (which removes outline development permits) and the conclusion of the Auditor-General investigation into the power station extension contract.
But Mepa chairman Austin Walker said the board would have to decide and it was not possible to postpone.
Another Labour MP, Evarist Bartolo said there was a discrepancy in the size of the area for development listed in the project's environment impact assessment and the area quoted by BWSC, the Danish company which has been awarded the contract.
Various speakers from the floor expressed serious doubts on Enemalta's and Mepa's credibility to ensure that conditions are adhered to.
A member of the public, Edward Falzon, questioned how Mepa could assure residents that it would defend their health when it was not able to solve the black dust issue plaguing the south.
Replying to a question, Enemalta engineer Peter Grima confirmed that the type of plant that would be installed in Delimara did not exist anywhere else.
Earlier, those present were told that the Mepa Environment Protection Directorate is proposing the inclusion of an obligation in the power station extension permit so that the operator would be required to supply, via the internet, regular data on emissions from the power station.
The Planning Directorate is recommending approval of the project subject to conditions to protect the environment.
The public meeting opened with a presentation by the Mepa case officer on the proposed development. He explained how the extension would have eight power generating plants burning heavy fuel oil and there would be two chimneys each 65 metres high. He also went through the environment impact assessment for the project.
A large number of people are attending the meeting, including several Labour MPs, mayors and residents of the towns bordering Delimara.
The issue was also discussed in an emergency debate on the House of Representatives yesterday. The Opposition insisted that the Mepa debate should have been put off pending the conclusion of an inquiry by the Auditor-General on how the contract for the power station equipment was awarded.
The government insisted it would not interfere in Mepa procedures and it was up to Mepa to decide whether to hold or put off its considerations and whether or not to approve the development application.
See debate report at
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100127/local/power-station