Malta gas pipeline planners warned over unexploded WW2 bombs

Unexploded ordnance from World War II could be a serious risk factor when planners start laying down the new gas pipeline from Malta to Sicily.

Construction on the €322 million pipeline is expected to start in 2020, to ultimately replace the floating gas tanker in Marsaxlokk Bay currently providing natural gas to the Delimara power station.

A tender for a marine survey has now been issued, to include a risk assessment for the project, which will connect a gas pipeline from Delimara to Gela, in Sicily. The assessment will have to include research for the identification of military equipment and more importantly unexploded bombs along the project’s footprint emanating from WW2 operations.

“Military installations and especially UXOs or prohibited areas could affect the project’s footprint, budget and safety. In other words, the design of the project should be compatible with military plans,” the report says, calling for the identification of so called UXO areas (areas where unexploded ordnance is likely to exist) that need to be avoided.

“UXO areas could also be provided by the ministries, but in order to secure the safety and integrity of the project, a detailed marine survey should be performed as some UXOs might not come from present military activity. In case UXOs are identified along the project proposed route, the UXOs will need to be removed in a safe manner, or the project should be re-designed accordingly. In any case, the project should be designed in such a way as to avoid sensitive military areas.”

Avoidance of areas with unexploded ordnance is projected to be a serious consideration for the project, since Malta was a focal point of war activities as late as World War II, when both the island and the shipping lanes supplying it were under heavy and prolonged air attack.

A detailed and very careful survey will have to be performed for unknown unexploded ordnance, such as explosive bombs, shells, grenades, naval mines, etc. that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation. Unknown shipwrecks should also be identified and avoided. A decision on whether a Strategic Environment Assessment will be carried out on the pipeline will depend on the energy ministry.

A SEA assesses the likely significant effects of plans and programmes on the environment, seeks the views of stakeholders and the general public on these effects, and influences the plan preparation process in order to address environmental issues at an early stage.

An open discussion on the pipeline will be held with national and local authorities and the general public at the St Thomas More primary school in Marsaxlokk later on in the year.

A SEA for the energy policy programme was already carried out in 2009. According to risk assessment authors, there are no overwhelming environmental considerations that have been identified that would necessitate a new SEA for the gas pipeline.

However, the gas pipeline will be traversing two environmentally-protected areas. The pipeline will have to go through two Natura 2000 sites in Gela, and a nature park at the Delimara Peninsula. In addition, there are indications of marine meadows, which are priority habitats for the EU, along the coastline of both areas.

The feasibility report for the Gela option, which was prepared by the same authors as the risk assessment report, say there are technical solutions that may be deployed and which are considered to be more environmentally friendly, such as trenchless techniques, that could be utilised to eliminate impacts to the protected features.