Marsa’s air quality improves since power station closure

Air quality in the Marsa area has seen an improvement since the Enemalta power station was closed last year.

Enemalta said in a statement that carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by up to 761,000 tonnes a year – the average annual amount produced by the power station between 2010 and 2014.

Air quality monitoring studies also indicate that in January, airborne sulphur dioxide concentrations in the Marsa area were over 80% less than the levels recorded when the station was still generating electricity. Indeed, the SO2 levels identified at the power station were almost as low as those recorded at the Univeristy’s Global Air Watch background station at the Tal-Giordan Lighthouse in Gharb, Gozo. Other improvements were recorded in nitrogen dioxide emissions, a pollutant also attributed to vehicles.

During a recent meeting with mayors, Enemalta said that it has stopped receiving complaints of black dust from residents in Marsa, Paola, Fgura, Hamrun and Tarxien. The last reported case of black dust precipitation goes back to 2013.

“The competent authorities have just confirmed the next phase of the project to dismantle the power station,” Enemalta executive chairman Fredrick Azzopardi said. “Works on site will gather pace in the next few weeks with the dismantling of Boiler 8, one of the largest structures of the Marsa power station, and other equipment.”