ERA calls five-hour Delimara power station public consultation for 18 November
Interested parties rifling through the 15,000 page risk assessment reports on the new Delimara power station had better redouble their efforts, as the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has scheduled its public consultation meeting on the controversial project 12 days from now.
The meeting, which is expected to be a contentious affair, is scheduled to be held on Friday 18 November at the Marsaxlokk Primary School (on Triq lArznell) between 3.30 and 8.30pm.
The meeting will discuss the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The first permit (IP0002/07/E) relates to the “renewal and variation of the IPPC permit to include the operation of Delimara 1, Delimara 2a and2b, Delimara 3 (conversion from HFO to Natural Gas), Delimara 4 CGT and the LNG Terminal.
The second (EA00014/13) relates to an “Addendum to the EIA carried out for Delimara Gas and Power: Combined cycle gas turbine and liquefied natural gas receiving, storage, and regasification facilities at Delimara Power Station.”
The notice, published in Friday’s issue of the Government Gazette, states: “As part of the ongoing public consultation process for the above-mentioned proposal, the public is cordially invited to attend a public meeting, to request information and clarifications, discuss with the operators and consultants, and comment on the impacts of the EIA addendum and the IPPC application itself.”
The ERA clarifies that the meeting will not be the final decision-taking meeting, and that all comments made during the meeting will be recorded.
Last month, the ERA had given a 30-day timeframe for the public consultation period, which it increased by a further 10 days following protestations from Opposition leader Simon Busuttil. Dr Busuttil, still not satisfied, said that a mere 10-day extension “proves that the authority is trying to rush the process through”.
Copies of the EIA addendum and the IPPC application can be viewed at the offices of the Malta Environment & Resources Authority (Hexagon House, Marsa) and at the Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġa and Żejtun Local Councils, during office hours, as well as at (http://era.org.mt/en/Pages/ActivePublic-Consultations.aspx).
Written submissions can also be made by not later than Sunday, 27 November, and should be addressed to the Director of Environment, Environment and Resources Authority, Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa, MRS 1441 or sent by email to ippc.consultation@era.org.mt or eia.malta@era.org.mt as relevant.