Two of the old Marsa power station’s five chimneys and three heavy fuel oil tanks are being dismantled in a job that will take a few weeks.

One of the chimneys, 42 metres high and five metres wide and which formed part of a 1966 extension, is being cut into sections and lowered to the ground using a 200-tonne crane.

A smaller chimney will be demolished. The fuel tanks being removed will be cleaned of residue and Enemalta said it was possible the material would be reused or recycled.

The dismantling of the Marsa power station started in October when the air intake shafts, stores and other structures were demolished to allow access to the three tanks.

When the area was cleared, Enemalta began excavation works for the building of a new distribution centre, which will replace the distribution network now located at another part of the power station site.

This centre, known as the 132kV Marsa North Distribution Centre, will be one of the most important links of the electricity grid, providing increased capacity, flexibility and security of supply to several parts of the country, Enemalta said.

The contracts for the building of the new centre and the installation of equipment have been awarded and construction works will begin this summer.

Meanwhile, after the planning authority last month approved plans for the clearing of all other areas, Enemalta issued a call for offers for the dismantling of the remaining structures. Offers close on July 3.

The Marsa power station was shut down on March 9 and is being temporarily maintained on cold standby, pending final decommissioning.

The decommissioning and dismantling forms part of Enemalta’s plan to end the use of less efficient, oil-fired generators and shift to cleaner technologies, including gas-fired plants and renewable sources.

As soon as the new gas-fired plant at the Delimara power station is completed the few remaining Marsa power station units on cold standby will be fully decommissioned.