Updated | MEPA to issue permit for cement silo adjacent to grain supplier

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board has this afternoon agreed to issue an environmental permit for the cement silo adjacent to the Kordin Grain Terminal in Corradino.

Despite health and safety concerns voiced by Kordin Grain Terminal (KGT) and environmental lobbyists Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), the board voted in favour of the permit, taking into consideration the applicant's risk assessment tests and claims that the silo only poses an insignificant risk.

In January, KGT, the only provider of grain storage on the island, objected to the unloading of cement into a silo constructed next to its grain silos. In its application filed before the civil courts, it argued that the cement silo poses a threat to its grain, which in turn would be detrimental to the health of the general public.

Addressing the MEPA board this afternoon, the KGT's legal counsel claimed that the silo - which is located next door to Laboratory Wharf - was too close its grain conveyor belt.

"Not only do sanitary regulations dictate that the cement silo should be within 100 metres away from the grain terminal, but moreover, due to its proximity, there are grave concerns of the contamination of grain by cement dust," a KGT representative argued.

While insisting that the cement silo should not be approved due to its "threat" on the health of people, KGT argued that the risk of contamination is ever present and that if contaminated, the grain would be rendered inedible.

"It is not possible to eliminate all cement emissions as these may become air borne, while even trace amounts of cement in the grain are detrimental to the product. This would compromise the health of the consumers and also put a dent into the operations of the KNG," the Grain Terminal representatives argued.

On its part, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) claimed that UC Ltd should have never built the cement silo because it did not present a planning application, thus rendering it illegal.

"Any application should be open to consultation and representation of all stakeholders. Nevertheless, no application was presented, making the Enforcement Department duty-bound to take direct action."

UC Limited, the applicants of the cement silo, argued that any dust releases would be detected immediately and that any releases would be mitigated immediately.

It also claimed that cement handling is controlled while risk assessment tests concluded that the severity of release, its probability and its detection are up to standard and consequently, pose a "low" risk.

Taking into account the risk assessment tests and the criticism levelled by Kordin Grain Terminal, the Environmental Health Directorate recommended the approval of the permit, but nevertheless, acknowledged that it is not possible to eliminate all cement emissions.

"The risk assessment test detailed the nature and quantities of emission, risks of potential environmental contamination as well as proposed mitigation and control measures. The directorate proposes the approval of the permit, provided UC Ltd. follows certain conditions, including those pertinent to air emissions, odour, noise, waste and accident prevention tests," the case officer said.

In its decision, the MEPA board voted in favour of the permit.  Board members Franco Montesin, Elizabeth Ellul, Matthew Pace, Ray Camilleri, Charlo Camilleri, Paul Apap Bologna and Ryan Callus voted in favour, Victor Axiaq and Alex Vella voted against while five abstained. 

FAA reaction

In a reaction, environmental NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) condemned the MEPA board's decision to issue the permit legalising the cement silo.

"The cement silo was built without any permits. When the FAA alerted the Environmental and Planning Authority that no permits had been submitted by UC Ltd, MEPA refused to step in and stop the construction," FAA said.

The NGO argued that instead of stopping the construction it instead granted a temporary operating permit and claimed that this was necessary in order to carry out a risk assessment.

"Such assessment needs to be carried out before a project is begun, not after it is completed," the FAA stressed.

Moreover, FAA claimed that the most worrying factor of the cement silo remains public health - more so because the grain silo supplies the wheat for 70% of Malta's bread.

"The cement dust is very toxic and even minute amounts of cement dust could be severely detrimental to the health of people, most notably children."

"Irrespective of the silo's safety, the risk of contamination of the grain by cement dust is still prevalent. This was also acknowledged by the risk assessment tests which did not exclude the possibility of contamination of the grain by the cement silo," it continued.