Be the first to comment!Proposed change to timeframe on Delimara IPCC permit
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The IPPC permit approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board in December 2011 and as varied in July 2012, authorised the operation of the Delimara Power Station Extension (DPSE) using heavy fuel oil (HFO).
The permit conditions require Enemalta to carry out ambient air monitoring, and stipulate that this data is to be assessed by an independent air quality consultant appointed by a Monitoring Committee set up for this purpose. The committee is chaired by MEPA and includes a representative of the four local councils (Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Zejtun and Ghaxaq) and a representative of Enemalta.
It was proposed that ambient air monitoring data would be analysed, before the Authority would decide whether HFO could continue to be used, or whether the operation of DPSE would be restricted to the use of gasoil. The IPPC permit requires this decision to be taken by the Authority by no later than 30 June 2013.
The Air Quality Management Resource Centre at the University of the West of England, Bristol, has been selected as the independent air quality consultant by the Monitoring Committee. The consultants have informed the Monitoring Committee that they require at least 6 months’ monitoring data with DPSE in full operation. The commissioning of the diesel engines at the DPSE was however completed in December 2012.
The consultants have also prepared a report using data prior to the full commissioning of DPSE to provide a baseline for the analysis of monitoring data over the six months following commissioning.
Due to the extent of data required by the independent air quality consultants following commissioning of DPSE, and to allow sufficient time for the subsequent review of this report and all necessary consultations, it will not be possible for the consolidated report to be finalised in time for a decision to be taken by the Authority in June 2013.
It is therefore being recommended, in agreement with the Monitoring Committee, that the relevant condition in the IPPC permit should be revised to extend the timeframe from end June 2013 to no later than end March 2014.
The public consultation document and the baseline report are available on the MEPA website at www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation and comments will be received until 28 July 2013.
