Delimara extension switched off once again - Labour MP

Labour MP Joe Mizzi said the Delimara power plant extension has been at a standstill for a week following the re-installation of the turbine which was sent to the UK for repairs.

In October, Mizzi had revealed that the new turbine suffered serious damage during a test run and claimed that the plant was not operative.

Following these revelations, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech admitted that the damage sustained by a steam turbine had delayed the hand-over of the Delimara power station extension by up to six months and said that the Marsa power station will have to be brought back into action to cover the loss of power generation incurred by the Delimara malfunction.

Fenech added that given how the Delimara power plant extension is still under BSWC's responsibility, Enemalta will be seeking to apply the full contractual penalties to recoup losses incurred by the turbine damage.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday evening, Mizzi explained that following the re-installation the machinery and the computers were shut down adding that "this is a worrying situation and the country does not know what is happening."

Mizzi stressed that the national energy corporation, Enemalta should demand the installation of a new turbine and should not settle for a repaired one. He explained that following the re-installation the steam turbine developed new faults in the load control and vibrations.  

The Opposition whip also said that the dump condoner was malfunctioning and the piping system was leaking and polluting the water system. He added that Enemalta should demand a new condenser since it had paid for a new and functioning one.

The abatement system is also not functioning well and is leaking acidic substances, according to Mizzi.  

He pointed out that Enemalta is in dispute with BWSC, although he noted that the people wweere left in the dar over the situation.

"Apperently Enemalta is asking BWSC to run a reliability test from scratch  however it seems that BWSC have refused to do so and the plant was turned off. The computers are locked, the extension is switched off and the people are in the dark about the reasons for the dispute, despite the assurances given by the Prime Minister that BWSC would be paying for the damage," Mizzi said.

Following the initial faults in October, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had said that  Enemalta will be able to apply contractual penalties for the delay, which amount to €1.6 million for each week that BSWC delays the final handing-over, beyond the 7  November deadline.

He said that such costs would cover the activation and running of the Marsa power plant, the higher cost of fuel to operate the Marsa plant, and also emission penalties.

Gonzi had specified that the costs incurred by the loss of operation of the Delimara plant will be over and above the €1.6 per week deadline penalty.

Mizzi said that he had demanded an investigation by the Auditor General to avoid having the maltese taxpayers pay for the Government's bad decisions.

"The Maltese people deserve to know what is going on. I will therefore pose a number of questions. Hopefully the finance minister will give us prompt and satisfactory replies and shoulder the responsibility without shifting it on Enemalta," Mizzi said.

Among these Mizzi asked what is the reason why the plant was on a standstill for a whole week and whether  the reliability tests be held again. He also asked  whether independent engineers had  been engaged to carry out reliability tests and determine the reasons for the damage.

Mizzi also asked "What is the situation with the steam turbine? Has a report been presented to Enemalta on the cause of the damage? Is Enemalta demanding a new turbine or will Enemalta accept a repaired turbine?"

He also asked Enemalta to explain what is the situation with the dump condenser and why it had not asked for the delivery of a new one.

"The whole country will suffer the consequences of the damage at the BWCS extension and we [Labour] would be irresponsible not to pose these questions," Mizzi added.

In recent weeks the government has come under fire from the Opposition which is insisting that government has already paid €157 million to BWSC for a plant that has broken down before it started operating.