Marsa power station. The Commission warned that if the government does not reply within two months, it may refer the case to the European Court of Justice. The decision to issue a reasoned opinion was taken on the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, as no reply was received from Malta following a letter of formal notice sent on 28 February which invited the government to submit its observations within two months
The EC noted that under the Large Combustion Plants Directive, which is intended to limit the emissions of various pollutants, Malta had agreed to operate its Marsa power station for no more than 20,000 hours between 2008 and its definitive closure not later than 2015. This power station, which generates 45% of Malta’s electricity, contains four combustion plants, three of which have already passed the 20,000 hours ceiling, while the fourth is also approaching this limit. EU law contains no provisions for passing this ceiling, which is a final extension of earlier deadlines.
The Commission, while acknowledging that a replacement power station in Delimara is nearing completion, is still concerned about the timing of the changeover and has thus issued its preliminary warning to Malta.
Government blames procurement delays
In its first reaction, the government blamed delays in the procurement and approval processes of the Delimara power station extension which were mostly due to the submission of bids which were not technically compliant. Had the plant procurement progressed as planned, Enemalta would have been able to reduce the output from the Marsa plant by at least 50% in summer 2010. As a result, the expiry of the permitted 20,000 hours would only have taken place in 2013. Regarding the submarine interconnector, the government said that the designs have been finalised and manufacturing of the component parts for the terminal plant on shore has commenced. The government remarked that the coming into service of the Delimara power station extension in the coming months will result in half of the Marsa power station being switched off. The plant will be shut down completely once the interconnector becomes operational.
Another no-confidence vote in the government – PL
Meanwhile, Opposition spokesperson for the environment, sustainable development and climate change Leo Brincat described the Commission’s warning as another vote of no confidence in the government. He remarked that the government is not protecting the citizens, while testing on the heavy fuel oil plant in Delimara is being carried out sporadically. Mr Brincat accused the government of indifference and bad planning, citing the fact that the Marsa power station should have been closed by now. He added that the interconnector project was still a long way from being completed, and thus the Marsa power station cannot be switched off for the time being. As a result, citizens will have to pay the price both for the toxic emissions and also financially if the agreed timeframes are not respected.
Malta the laggard of Europe
– AD
Alternattiva Demokratika also lashed out at the government stating that it lacks vision to improve air quality. Ralph Cassar spokesperson for energy, IT and transport said that the government has been promising to close down the Marsa power station since 1994. He expressed his concern that even Labour is addicted to dirty energy and keeps mentioning a coal burning plant with ‘carbon capture’ and peddling it as a ‘clean technology’. AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio added that Malta should adopt a green new deal at the earliest. “As things stand, Malta remains the laggard of Europe, being totally dependent on dirty energy,” concluded Mr Briguglio.
Other warnings on renewable energy and packaging waste
In other developments, the EC yesterday issued another reasoned opinion, this time about the incorrect transposition of the packaging and packaging waste directive in Maltese law. This directive is intended to reduce the volume of waste and encourage sustainable growth. The Commission said that a provision in Maltese law suggests that the local legislation only applies to products directly placed on the Maltese market, thus excluding products initially placed on the market in other member states and then brought to Malta. As a result, not all packaging waste would be properly treated according to the directive’s requirements for re-use, recovery and collection.
The Ministry for Tourism, Culture and the Environment said later that following discussions with the Commission, it issued draft Regulations amending the Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations for public consultation. These take into account the concerns mentioned by the Commission. This public consultation will end on 28 June following which the regulations will be published and the Commission notified accordingly.
The Commission yesterday has also given Malta a two-month deadline to declare what steps it will be taking to fully transpose the Renewable Energy Directive, which should have been done by 5 December 2010. In a statement, the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs remarked that all the necessary transposition measures have in fact been adopted and that the Commission was notified of these measures.