Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1091272
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 NEWS CONTINUNED FROM PAGE 1 one cannot make any state- ment until the inquiry is con- cluded." But MaltaToday has learnt that energy minister Joe Mizzi and Marjohn Abela, CEO of the Regulator for Energy and Water Services, were warned by industry sources that thein- creased use of propane in- side Liquigas cylinders could be a cause for concern. In a confidential note sent to the minister and the REWS chief, the source said thatLiq- uigas's recent imports of pro- pane for its gas cylinders were not in line with legal require- ments to bottle only LPG (liq- uefied petroleum gas, or G30). Liquigas has denied this statement: it told MaltaTo- dayits LPG cylinders are filled according to the national Liq- uified Petroleum Market Regu- lations and the relevant stand- ards (BS EN 589 and BS 4250). "G30 and G31 are standards related to appliances that use LPG as a fuel. The fact that cylinders are filled with LPG (either propane, or a mix of propane and butane) does not expose the gas using appli- ance to pressures higher than those established in the G30 and G31 standards, and there- fore impose no risk to the end user,"Liquigassaid. But REWS, which receives monthly reports from Liqui- gas on the gas it imports and distributes to the market, was asked to investigate the bot- tling of propane in domestic cylinders. "In the last months Liqui- gas has been importing only propane when our legisla- tion requires us to bottle LPG mix for G30, so much so that importers of domestic appli- ances in Malta also import equipment such as gas heaters and cookers which are rated G30," the note states. Gas companies import both propane and butane, but 1kg of propane delivers more litres of the same gas, than 1kg of bu- tane. By bottling propane in do- mestic tanks, added hazards could include over-pressure in hoses; and where such gas ap- pliances designed for an LPG mix are suddenly supplied with propane, these are exposed to a higher pressure."In the past, the [gas cylinder] regulator was designed for an inlet pressure of five bar, which is OK for the mix but dangerous for pro- pane," the note said. Another danger for domes- tic settings occurs in the joint between the rubber hose and the copper pipe. Most joints are made by simply sliding the rubber hose on the copper pipe and placing a hose clip. "Al- though this is not to standard, this is OK for the low-pressure G30 mix. If there is a small leak of the regulator, pressure ac- cumulates in the hose. When the pressure is low, this joint is fine; but it is not good for the high pressure of propane," the note warns. Liquigas has said in a state- ment that its green and yel- low cylinders are certified by TUV, a technical inspection association that conducts test- ing to international standards. The company said the Maltese authorities also oversee the fill- ing operations and had "always found that Liquigas cylinders comply with all regulations." Liquigas said customers had to ensure gas regulators and rubber hoses are in a good condition "Some regulators on the market are not of good quality. In any case, regulators should be replaced every 10 years. Theold regulator should be disposed of immediately so that it is never used or installed again. Regulators are precisely set by the manufacturer to con- trol the pressure of the supply, and therefore they must not be adjusted privately." Even hoses should be regular- ly checked for possible cracks and replaced every five years. In the case of Liquigas cylin- ders, customers are urged to check that the cylinders they are receiving have a Liquigas- branded seal, which has a se- rial number for identification and traceability with the words 'Liquigas' on it. "This seal of- fers peace of mind to custom- ers as it shows that the cylinder has been tested and properly filled at Liquigas facility, and therefore carries the guarantee of quality," the spokesperson said. Minister, REWS warned about propane risk inside cylinders MATTHEW AGIUS EIGHT environmental NGOs have called for a wide-ranging study, the Strategic Environ- ment Assessment (SEA), for the Gozo tunnel before even pro- ceeding with further plans. The SEA is a legal obligation for any plan by government likely to have a significant effect on the environment, to predict environmental impacts, evalu- ating reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures. "It is only after the necessary studies are concluded and pub- lished that a meaningful discus- sion on the Malta-Gozo tunnel can begin," said Ramblers As- sociation spokesperson Ingram Bondin. The studies would include analyses of the increase in traf- fic, journey times, alternatives for a fast-ferry service, financial costs, and the impact on soci- ety, economy, environment and infrastructure. "At this stage, we have noth- ing that shows that the tunnel will effectively address mobility challenges, and that its social, economic and environmental impacts will be sustainable… whilst fully acknowledging the need to address mobility chal- lenges experienced by Gozitan workers and students, we ex- press our disagreement with declarations that the discussion about the Malta-Gozo tunnel is closed and that we are now at an 'implementation stage'," Bondin said. The tunnel project enjoys the support of both sides of the Maltese parliament, and talks are being led by former La- bour MP Franco Mercieca, who claimed the debate over the need for the tunnel was over. "The discussion has not even begun," Bondin said yesterday outside the House of Repre- sentatives, where he was joined by Friends of the Earth, Flim- kien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar, the Ramblers Association, Din l- Art Ħelwa, Moviment Graffitti, Isles Of The Left and Zminiji- etna. Also in attendance were members of the Green Party, Alternattiva Demokratika and independent MEP candidate Arnold Cassola. "There is currently a total lack of studies and information on the utility and impacts of the tunnel. Indeed, it has not even been established whether a tun- nel will actually facilitate mobil- ity between the two islands." A project description state- ment for the €300 million tun- nel project so far proposes a relatively narrow tunnel with one lane in each direction. With over 9,000 cars passing daily through the tunnel, the possibility of queuing remains, leading to doubts as to whether the tunnel will even reduce the average journey times between Malta and Gozo. The tunnel will only lead to the northern part of the Maltese island, with Gozitans having to then travel all the way to their place of work or study, possibly encountering increased traffic jams along the way. "A fast-ferry service might ad- dress this in ways that the tun- nel cannot. The best solution for improving the connectivity between the two islands can on- ly be determined through stud- ies that consider and compare all possible options," Bondin said. Government subsidies will probably be inevitable to fi- nance the construction and maintenance of the project to keep road tolls affordable, Bon- din added. He also said a SEA had to study the impact of the tunnel on Gozitan society and the en- vironment, as well as the take- up of arable and natural land for the tunnel's two entrances, an- cillary roads, the unprecedent- ed volume of one million cubic metres of waste generated from the tunnelling, and devastation to uncontaminated aquifer at Mizieb and l-Imbordin, which has provided water for the Pwales valley for millennia. The Pwales aquifer at present yields about six million cubic metres of water per annum. The l-Imbordin area also con- tains natural cave dwellings dating to a pre-Knights period, known for its Knights' period 'giardini', which will also be ex- cavated for the tunnel entrance and its infrastructure. Gozo tunnel must be submitted to SEA impact study, NGOs warn Eight environmental NGOs have called for a wide-ranging study, the Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA), for the Gozo tunnel before even proceeding with further plans Customers are urged to check that the cylinders they are receiving have a•Liquigas-branded seal