Speaking at a press conference in front of the Marsa Power Station’s main entrance, the chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party), Dr Vassallo said: “If there is one area in which EU membership should have benefited Malta, than that should have been Environmental Protection. Barely two years after Malta’s accession to the EU, the government has already failed dismally to deliver what it promised the electorate in the pre-accession period.”
“We run the risk that the general disillusionment of the electorate with Malta’s EU membership will fuel even more Euro-scepticism,” headded Dr Vassallo.
Ralph Cassar, AD spokesperson on energy, industry and IT, said: “The two power stations are just one of the issues which prove the government’s lack of commitment to resolve environmental problems. The Maltese electorate was enticed into voting for EU membership amongst other things, by the government’s promises that the Delimara Power Station would adopt EU standards by the end of 2005 while the Marsa Power Station would either adopt EU standards by the date of accession or else close down (cf. Aggornat Special Edition November 2002). Today, it is clear that this was nothing more than one of those pre-electoral promises the Maltese electorate is so accustomed to.”
“Any frequent user of Triq Dicembru 13 in Marsa will confirm that the chimneys at the Marsa Power Station often belch out considerable amounts of black smoke, replete with that particulate matter which the Power Station is meant to control as per the Large Combustion Plants Directive. We challenge the government to prove that the Marsa Power Station is in line with the requirements of the above mentioned Directive!” Ralph Cassar added.
Dr Vassallo continued: “The Marsa Power Station should be decommissioned since it is obvious that it is not up to EU standards, and new equipment should be used instead. Costs are not an issue since a study by Dr Stephen Montfort has established a causal link between the Power Station emissions and the incidence of respiratory diseases in the area. The costs Enemalta would have to face in order to modernise its Jurassic equipment are more than offset by the social costs suffered by the populations of the localities close to the Power Station.”
Ralph Cassar said: “According to the Treaty on the Accession of Malta to the European Union Annex XI pp 3308), the Delimara Power Station had to be compliant with dust emission limit values as from 31 December 2005. Dust emissions into the atmosphere can be brought in line with what is demanded by EU-legislation only through the installation of electrostatic precipitators. To date we have not heard anything about the installation of such equipment at Delimara. This means that the Power Station at Delimara is in breach of the Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/80/EC). AD also suspects that the Delimara Power Station is not in line with the emission limit values for sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen as well.
“The Directive on Power Plants obliges the operator to monitor continuously for the emissions of these pollutants. We are soliciting Minister Pullicino to publish any data for the emissions of pollutants from the two power stations, if he is in possession of such data. If this data does not exist then we believe that the Maltese electorate is owed an explanation.”
Dr Vassallo concluded: “In the next days AD will be lodging a compliant with the Commissioner for the Environment regarding this issue. AD also appeals and invites all Maltese and Gozitans who treasure their health and that of their children to do likewise by signing a petition related to this complaint that can be found on the AD websites www.alternattiva.org.mt and www.adgozo.com .”