Environment watchdog to discuss Simon Busuttil’s extension request

The board of the Environment and Resources Authority will be meeting to discuss a request by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to extend the consultation period on the safety reports of the new gas-fired power station.

On Wednesday, the PN leader argued that a month was too short to analyse the documents and files making up the report, in total counting 15,000 pages.  

“It is ridiculous that the Authority expects professionals, let alone laymen, to read and analyse all this material in order to bring forward a serious case in the stipulated time,” Busuttil told ERA chairman Victor Axiak.

In a letter to Busuttil today, Axiak said that the board will be meeting to discuss the request whilst pointing out that it was the Authority’s duty to ensure that the process respected the obligations as dictated by the applicable laws.

The environment impact assessment (EIA) and the Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control (IPPC) application for the new Delimara power station were yesterday launched for public consultation.

The power station consists of a Floating Storage Unit anchored off Delimara, linked to an onshore regasification plant which will operate on liquefied natural gas, considered as a cleaner alternative to heavy fuel oil.

The IPPC will require the presentation of technical documents addressing safety issues.

Installations like power stations and large chemical plants have to obtain an IPPC permit from the Planning Authority to be allowed to operate.

The permitting process ensures that these plants make use of the “best available technology in their operations”. 

The IPPC assesses the whole environmental performance of the plant, including matters like emissions into the air, water and land, generation of waste, use of raw materials, energy efficiency, noise, prevention of accidents and risk management.

The processing of an IPPC permit requires the submission of a number of documents according to legislation in this field, primarily the European Union’s Industrial Emissions Directive.

The Authority has requested the operators to make the applications and the related documentation together with the EIA documents available at the Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga and Zejtun local councils.