The IPPC permit approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board in December 2011 as varied in July 2012 and September 2013, authorised the operation of the Delimara Power Station Extension (DPSE).

MEPA said that the decision regarding the final choice of fuel for the diesel engines was kept as a reserved matter and would be taken by the Authority following submission and analyses of ambient air monitoring data. The current IPPC permit requires this decision to be taken by the Authority by not later than 31st March 2014.

The Authority said that “the ambient air monitoring, has been 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 local council representatives and a representative of Enemalta.

“The Air Quality Management Resource Centre at the University of the West of England, Bristol, was selected as the independent air quality consultant by the Monitoring Committee.”

“The consultants have prepared a report using data prior to the full commissioning of DPSE which provides a baseline for the analyses of monitoring data over the six months following commissioning,” MEPA said.

“A final consolidated report covering 6 months monitoring data (December 2012 – June 2013) with DPSE in full operation has also been prepared.” MEPA added, “the conclusions of this report will allow the Authority to decide to allow or not the continued use of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) at the DPSE.”

The public consultation document, the baseline report and the final report are available here and comments will be received until 12th March 2014.

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