Have your environmental say on the new Delimara power station

The new Delimara gas-fired power station’s environment impact assessment and the Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control (IPPC) application have been launched for public consultation, the Environment and Resources Authority has announced.

The public consultation will commence tomorrow, 19 October, and close on 17 November.

The power station consists of a Floating Storage Unit anchored off Delimara, linked to an onshore regasification plant which will operate on liquefied natural gas, considered as a cleaner alternative to heavy fuel oil.

The IPPC will require the presentation of technical documents addressing safety issues.

Installations like power stations and large chemical plants have to obtain an IPPC permit from the Planning Authority to be allowed to operate. The permitting process ensures that these plants make use of the “best available technology in their operations”. 

The IPPC assesses the whole environmental performance of the plant, including matters like emissions into the air, water and land, generation of waste, use of raw materials, energy efficiency, noise, prevention of accidents and risk management.

The processing of an IPPC permit requires the submission of a number of documents according to legislation in this field, primarily the European Union’s Industrial Emissions Directive.

The Authority has requested the operators to make the applications and the related documentation together with the EIA documents available at the Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga and Zejtun local councils.

As advertised on the Sunday newspapers, during this period, hard copies of all these documents will also be available for viewing at the Authority’s offices in Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa between Monday and Friday from 7:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 15:00 and online on the Authority’s website. 

The public is invited to review these documents and submit any comments in writing by the 17th November, to the Environment and Resources Authority by either sending an email on [email protected] or [email protected], as relevant, or by writing to the Authority at the address: Director of Environment, IPPC: (IP0002/07/E), Environment and Resources Authority, Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa.