The Malta Environment and Planning Authority said in a statement this moring that it would like to clarify that the current public consultation process is intended to consider an extension to the timeframe by when a decision is to be made regarding whether the diesel engines at Delimara Power Station can continue to operate on HFO.

“The current permit conditions stipulate that the Monitoring Committee’s independent air quality consultants have to analyse the emissions data gathered over a period of six months following the commissioning of the plant,” MEPA said. “It was originally intended that the process would be completed in time for a decision to be made by 30th June 2013.”

Due to the delay in commissioning of the diesel engines and due to the extent of data required by the independent consultants following commissioning of the Delimara Power Station Extension (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,” MEPA said.

Therefore, in agreement with the Monitoring Committee, it is being recommended that the current condition in the IPPC permit should be revised to extend the timeframe for a decision from end June 2013 to no later than end March 2014.

MEPA said that pointed out that “Delimara Power Station is covered by an IPPC permit IP 0002/07/C which was issued on the 23rd July 2012 and is valid until 6th December 2015.”

The closing date for public consultation regarding the proposed extension to the timeframe is 28th July 2013 and a decision by the MEPA Board is expected shortly thereafter.

Further information is available from http://www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation.

Permalink: MEPA clarifies proposed change to IPPC permit condition