LNG risk assessments to be published with public consultation

The Environment and Resources Authority yesterday confirmed that all the risk assessments on the LNG tanker for the new Delimara power station will be published once the public consultation process kicks off.

In a letter addressed to Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, who requested reports’ publication, the ERA said, “The same can be said for the publication of reports as requested by yourself, as these will be available for the public in the coming days as part of the process undertaken by this authority... it is good to note that as part of this exercise, there will also be a public consultation.”

It added that the ERA is ensuring that the necessary processes and studies are being adhered to in accordance with the law.

In response to a string of questions made on Tuesday night in Parliament by Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil on the controversial LNG tanker, Occupational Health and Safety Authority Chairman Deo Debattista yesterday retorted that the relevant reports have not been made public because work is still ongoing.

In a letter sent to Dr Busuttil, he said that the competent authorities for the LNG tanker, made up of the OHSA, the Environment and Resources Authority, the Planning Authority and the Civil Protection Department, are tasked with evaluating and communicating conclusions of the reports submitted by the LNG tanker operators.

He said that this process is still ongoing and that the relevant authorities are also tasked with organising and carrying out inspections when the tanker becomes operational.

“In line with the competences of the relevant authorities, the OHSA was tasked with employing foreign experts that have much experience to assist on a technical level throughout evaluations of all the relevant documents.”

Dr Debattista said the documents will be made public once the evaluation process is concluded and the public consultation connected with the IPPC is launched.

He added that the OHSA believed that in this way, the entity would be observing the principles of transparency expected of public authorities and assured that the switch from heavy fuel oil to gas will be carried out in the most efficient and prudent way possible.

Silvio Parnis hails LNG tanker’s arrival as an ‘important development’

Chairman of the Consultative Council for the South Silvio Parnis yesterday hailed the arrival of the LNG tanker is an important development for government’s plan, to transform the country’s energy generation sector from “one that depends on oil to a cleaner method”.

This step, he said, will result in 90% less dust in the air, a 50% reduction in emissions and the closing down of the old Delimara power station.

He claimed that the opposition is merely scaremongering, and said that the people “appreciate that the temporary use of the tanker is a wise choice by the PL government, which has like in many other sectors, had to take action due to the lack of vision by past PN governments”.