Metsola presents petition on LNG tanker to European Parliament

Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola has urged the Maltese government not to rush with a proposal to berth a floating LNG storage vessel in the middle of Marsaxlokk bay, due to its proximity to the villages of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia.

The LNG vessel will be berthed outside the new Delimara gas plant to provide natural gas to the power station.

Metsola presented her petition, now supported by over 3,000 people, saying that there was no maritime impact assessment carried out on the project and that the risk to residents would be greatly mitigated should the tanker be berthed outside the bay, with proper security zones around it.

Metsola also said that the project may run contrary to the provisions of the EU's SEVESO Directive, and that the impact on people's lives, the environment, businesses, fishermen and their boats was not properly taken into consideration by the government.

Metsola reiterated her call for the European Commission to investigate any risk to public safety.

"This project runs totally opposite to what is being done by other EU governments that have taken all the necessary precautions with similar projects. An expert in the field recently said that the consequences of a gas leak would be disastrous for Malta and 91% of residents in the area agree with him. There is simply no need to take unnecessary risks and rush things through," Metsola said.