News • 16 February 2003

2004 credible date for Marsa power station – minister claims

The government intends bringing the Marsa power station up to EU standards by May 1 2004, Economic Service Minister Joseph Bonnici said.
Bonnici told MaltaToday "additional improvement in the quality of the fuel used and some other refinements in the operation of the plant, as a whole, are expected to bring the Marsa Power Station in line with the relevant EU emission requirements ahead of Malta's accession to the EU."
The EU had insisted with Malta that the Marsa power station be closed down by accession date, should it not be in compliance with EU Directives.
In its last budget the Malta government did not include a provision for improvements at the power station and minister Bonnici told MaltaToday "The relevant financial provisions will be covered within Enemalta's next budget of September 2003 to August 2004."
Bonnici would not commit himself to state how much the improvements would cost.Profs. Bonnici said: "Enemalta has already implemented various measures to reduce emissions from the Marsa Power Station.
"In particular, over the last couple of years, the Corporation has switched from high to medium sulphur heavy fuel oil and it has refurbished and activated a number of precipitators.
"These measures have already yielded tangible, positive results. Towards the end of this year, Enemalta is planning on switching to heavy fuel oil with an even lower sulphur content (less than 1 %)."
The power station at Marsa, has long been the target of criticism and residents living in the surrounding area have had to put up with pollution for years.
When the Delimara power station was planned the government has promised to close down the old Marsa plant, but since then has claimed it must be kept operating to keep up with increased demand.
Kurt Sansone and Julian Manduca reporting