The Environment and Resources Authority has approved an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the construction of a new access road, land reclamation for a terminal station at the Delimara Power Station, onshore microtunneling across the Delimara Peninsula and the laying of an offshore pipeline to Gela in Sicily.

In 2017, ERA had requested an EIA in accordance with the then Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 and an Appropriate Assessment (AA) in accordance with the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Regulations in view of its location within the three Natura 2000 sites.

ERA said that in light of the findings of the assessment and overall considerations, it does not object to the proposal “as long as the various mitigation measures proposed in the EIA and AA Reports, are duly incorporated into the mainstream development consent mechanism and mitigated by means of conditions and specifications (e.g. approved documents) in the development permit.”

The main points of concern raised by the reports and the public relate to the impacts on the natural cliffs due to rock cutting from the proposed construction of the new access road, coastal land uptake mainly due to the land reclamation component, visual amenity in relation to the construction of the terminal facility and on geology due to trenching and dredging works. In terms of ecology, the assessment identified impacts on benthic species due to excavation and trenching and installation of pipeline support structures and cable crossing structures; and impacts on terrestrial protected shrub species from interventions on the cliff face, the ERA said.

It went on to say that in relation to avifauna, the assessment identifies illumination impacts from working vessels and the terminal facility.

“The impact significance of each environmental parameter depends largely on the thorough implementation of pre-emptive safeguards, construction and operational mitigation measures, namely the use of silt curtain and suction dredger, air bubble screens, monitoring during construction (weathering rates in tunnel; rock stability; injured bird species and artefacts) oil spill prevention and response plans; and transplanting and monitoring of benthic assemblages,” the ERA said.

The Final Assessment was referred to the ERA Board for a decision in public in line with the EIA Regulations. The decision taken by the ERA Board today was that the Final Assessment put forward was being agreed to and a vote in favour was taken.

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