The Malta Environment and Planning Authority will be fining Enemalta for allowing three of the four plants at the Marsa power station to exceed the 20,000 operational hours they were permitted under a derogation Malta obtained when it joined the EU.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Mepa said the penalties will be calculated on a method which enables the seriousness and duration of the offence to be taken into account . The exact amounts of the penalties will be determined in the coming weeks.
The allowed operational hours had to be exceeded to keep the Marsa plant in operation. When the Delimara extension comes into operation in June, half of the Marsa station is expected to be taken out of service. The station is to be completely shut down next year when the interconnector cable with Sicily is completed in 2013.
The environmental planning statement for the interconnector project has just been issued for public consultation.
ENEMALTA REITERATES COMMITTMENT TO ENSURE STABLE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY
In a statement in the afternoon, Enemalta reiterated its commitment towards ensuring a stable supply of electricity required by Maltese families, businesses and industry while respecting the country’s environmental obligations.
It said it had embarked on three major initiatives namely, the commissioning of a new extension of the Delimara power station, the interconnector to connect Malta to the European electricity network and the decommissioning of Marsa’s power station.
The 144 MW extension of the Delimara Power station has now been fully constructed and is undergoing testing. This plant’s extension will be in compliance with the IPPC directive and will increase the energy generating capacity of the Delimara power station by 50 per cent. This project which represents an investment of €165 million is expected to be in full service by June.
It also commenced the process to install a submarine interconnector, which will connect Malta to the European electricity grid.
The design of the interconnector and shore-stations have been finalised and manufacturing of the component parts for the terminal plant on shore has commenced.
This project which represents a further investment of €200 million will be completed and commissioned by October 2013.
The operation of the Delimara Power Station extension by June 2012 will result in the closure of half of the Marsa Power Station. The output of the remaining half will be progressively reduced and shut down completely by October 2013.
In the meantime Enemalta has taken mitigating measures to reduce emissions from Marsa. This includes the use of higher quality fuel containing lower sulphur and lower ash levels and modifications to the boiler combustion system to reduce both NOx and dust levels.
This demonstrates that Enemalta has taken serious action and is continuing to take action to ensure a stable supply of electricity while ensuring that environmental concerns are respected.