A press conference on the generation of electricity through the use of gas was held by Arnold Cassola and Carmel Cacopardo, Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika the Green Party (AD) and its candidates for the European Parliament next May.

“This time last year, during the electoral campaign, AD was very clear about the Labour Party’s proposal to produce electricity through the use of gas. We had then stated that air quality would be much improved and that it was also possible to reduce electricity and water bills”

AD added, “12 months ago we had also stated that it was as yet unclear how the risk resulting from the storage of a large quantity of gas next to the power station itself as well as to residential areas and maritime operations was to be addressed.”

AD said that it has considered the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and in particular the study on the analysis of risks by Roberto Vaccari which forms an integral part of the said EIA.

“The risk report is inconclusive because, whilst it carries out an analysis, it does not proceed to the logical conclusions, in particular on the practical manner in which the generation of electricity through the use of gas will impact the other activities currently ongoing in Marsaxlokk Port,” AD said.

AD pointed out that “Vaccari, for example, concludes on the possibility of an incident as a result of which a cloud of gas accumulates in the area in front of the Freeport Terminal precisely in the area where ships manoeuvre prior to their berthing to unload their shipment of containers (see diagram). Just this should have been sufficient to lead to the conclusion that the proposed solution for the generation of electricity through the use of gas stored on a ship is a serious threat to the secure operation of the Freeport.”

“Other countries have created a security zone around the plant in order to isolate the potential possibility of an accident and to avoid its spilling over. This would reduce the impacts on people and on property and would minimise the economic damage which would result. This is how the Regional Government of Tuscany acted just outside the Port of Livorno where it established a security zone of eight kilometres around the ship serving as a gas storage point anchored 22.5 kilometres off the coast,” AD said.

“Under the cover that the risk analysis report is a preliminary assessment, Vaccari does not arrive to any conclusion. Whilst he refers to other installations in the Port of Marsaxlokk which might be affected as a result of a domino effect, the manner in which this can come about is not examined by either Vaccari or the EIA report.”

AD stated that “whilst it is known that it will be required to severely curtail maritime movements within Marsaxlokk Port, including those by fishermen, the EIA is silent about the matter.

All this should have led to the conclusion that the unloading and storage of gas at Marsaxlokk Port is a source of danger to both residents and the country’s economy.”

“Malta is still in time to explore other options. Ignoring political pique, the only practical solution is to utilise a gas pipeline which Government had unfortunately refused when offered by Italy in 1999.

“What is certain is that safety is priceless. Better to be safe than sorry,” AD concluded.

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