Mepa chairman Austin Walker said this afternoon that no mitigation efforts have been taken in the six months since a report it had commissioned found that the Marsa power station was the primary likely cause of the 'black dust' problem over Fgura and other localities.

Speaking at a meeting of a Parliamentary house committee, Mr Walker said the report, by Prof Alfred Vella, did not actually make recommendations on mitigation measures.

Actions with regard to the power station were dependant on a number of factors, not least its IPCC operations permit and periodic audits on emissions, fuel use and fly ash, which were submitted regularly as required by the EU.

Opposition environment spokesman Leo Brincat asked if Mepa had endorsed the conclusions of the report, more so since Enemalta seemed to put those conclusions in doubt. 

Mr Walker said Mepa had endorsed the report and published it. The report, as well as previous ones, were based on samples collected over many months between 2009 and 2010. However, this did not mean that Prof Vella's findings contradicted the findings made in previous research made on the basis of other samples.

No one could deny that the power station, as well as traffic, produced black dust, but Prof Vella found that according to the samples he had studied, the primary source of the 'dust' was the Marsa power station.

RESPONSIBILITY

Franco Debono (PN) said traffic was found everywhere, but Fgura had a particular black dust problem which was now being blamed on the Marsa power station. Who would shoulder responsibility for this pollution. Were there consequences on people's health? How would Enemalta remedy the situation?

Speaker Michael Frendo said those questions would best be answered by Enemalta officials, when they were summoned.

Interjecting, Jesmond Mugliett said that Mepa, as the regulator which had endorsed the report, could issue directives to Enemalta to regulate the situation. Had it done so?

Dr Debono said Mepa, as the regulator, had a responsibility to shoulder too.

Mr Brincat asked if Mepa could confirm that the IPCC conditions were being strictly monitored, and whether they were being observed by Enemalta. Was there any link between the black dust issue and the fact that the precipitators were not functioning for many months?

Mr Walker said he was not a technical person, but the IPCC permit laid down reporting and audit requirements. Marsa station was allowed to operate at higher emissions in terms of a derogation for a maximum of 20,000. However, there were times when maximum emission levels including Delimara power station had been exceeded at times, and these were being investigated by Mepa and experts abroad.

Following an Enemalta report of excess emissions of sulphur, it was found that the emissions were actually lower.

However, a detailed audit of the Marsa power station is due to start in the near future.

The IPPC permit conditions were being monitored closely by Mepa but he could not say that these conditions were directly linked to the black dust issue. 

Mr Mugliett observed that in the days when Prof Vella's report was issued, it was also claimed that the 'dust' was not harmful to health.

Mr Walker said it was not Mepa's role to go into the health issue, but Mepa was responsible to ensure that the IPCC was observed.

Mr Mugliett said he was insisting, once more, that Mepa should say if any actions were taken in the wake of Prof Vella's report.

Dr Frendo said that apart from the IPCC permit, were there other mechanisms which Mepa could use to clamp down on the black dust problem?

Mr Mugliett that apart from the health issue, there was also the fact that a public nuisance was being caused. Even if the IPCC permit conditions were not being exceeded, there were other issues.

Mr Walker said he needed to verify with technical experts.

The permanent secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister said mitigation measures had to be seen in the context that the Marsa power station would be decommissioned soon.

Labour MP Joe Mizzi said he was surprised that Mepa had not reacted to the Enemalta statement disputing the findings of Prof Vella's report.