Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518765
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 APRIL 2024 ANALYSIS ERA justified the waiver on the premise that the project is unlikely to impact the envi- ronment significantly since the emergency power plant will only be used in emergencies and will be located in an area already used for power genera- tion.The government has now proceeded with awarding the tender for the plant to a compa- ny owned by Bonnici Brothers. What is being proposed? The new plant, which can be used for a maximum of 500 hours a year, will consist of two containerised gasoil-fired generators located within the boundaries of the existing De- limara power station. The plant is expected to cost Enemalta €46 million over a period of 27 months. Enemalta's project statement says the 60MW back-up is re- quired for season- al peaks in winter, mainly in January and February, and in summer between June and Sep- tember, apart from "emergen- cy situations when one of the country's principal electricity supplies fails during peak de- mand." The plant is meant to fill the time gap until the sec- ond interconnector is complet- ed. On its part the PN has react- ed by shooting down what it described as the government's amateur energy policy, while noting that after spending years calling heavy fuel oil-powered energy a "cancer factory" it was now falling back on diesel pow- er. The PN fell short of claiming that the new temporary plant is itself a 'cancer factory' but the insinuation is that Labour has backtracked on its promise to do away with more polluting fuels.But how does the use of gasoil compare with HFO and with LNG? Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) vs. Gasoil vs. LNG HFO is a residual fuel oil de- rived from crude oil refining, characterised by its high sul- phur content. When burned for power generation, HFO re- leases substantial amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitro- gen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the atmosphere. Gasoil, commonly known as diesel fuel, is a distillate fu- el with lower sulphur content compared to HFO. While gas- oil combustion emits fewer pollutants such as SO2 and PM compared to HFO, it remains a significant source of NOx emis- sions and PAHs, particularly from older diesel engines. Both HFO and gasoil com- bustion release carcinogenic pollutants, including PAHs, which pose a significant risk of cancer to exposed populations. NOx found in gasoil can also adversely affect respiratory and cardiovascular health. How- ever, HFO tends to have high- er levels of PAHs compared to gasoil, primarily due to its higher sulphur content and less efficient combustion process- es. Therefore, in terms of can- cer risk, gasoil presents a lower health risk compared to HFO. But any comparison on health impacts must take into account the kind of technology used es- pecially with regards to pollu- tion abatement. For example, while the cancer factory label was apt to describe the Mar- sa plant which was completely shut down in 2015, studies sug- gest the newer BWSC plant had a less pronounced impact on air quality thanks to the abatement technology used. In fact, a report conducted by the University of West England in 2014, found no deterioration of air quality because of the plant despite the use of heavy fuel oil. It was because of this report that the operational per- mit for the plant was extended for another year by the new- ly elected PL administration. But the abatement technology still came at a considerable en- vironmental cost as the plant was generating 10,000 tonnes of hazardous waste annually which had to be locally stored before being exported. Emissions form diesel engines also depend on the technology used with more negative im- pacts normally associated with older plants. But the Project Description Statement for the emergency generators submit- ted by Enemalta to ERA ac- knowledges that it will result in NOx emissions from the gen- set's individual stacks. This impact is deemed to be "adverse, localised and tempo- rary for the duration of opera- tion of the plant". But the im- pact is mitigated by limiting the operational hours of the plant to not more than 500 operating hours per year. In short, while gasoil tends to emit lower levels of certain pol- lutants compared to HFO, both fuels contribute to air pollution and associated health impacts. In contrast, LNG combustion emits minimal NOx, PM, and PAHs, resulting in lower can- cer risk and reduced respira- tory and cardiovascular health effects. Yet, unlike renewable energy, LNG still emits carbon which contributes to climate change. But even in this case LNG is preferable to gasoil which pro- duces even more CO2 emis- sions. The verdict Therefore, if the new plant is temporary; its use limited to a few days a year; and the best available technology is used; the 'cancer factory' label does not apply to the two diesel gen- erators being installed in Deli- mara. But the absence of an En- vironmental Impact Assess- ment, dictated by the urgency of a race against darkness, al- so comes with an information deficit on potential impacts, air dispersal models and mitiga- tion measures. back in town? Enemalta CEO Ryan Fava (inset) said in the company's request to have an EIA waived that the new plant is needed to make up for the unprecedented increase in energy demand The 60MW back- up is required for seasonal peaks in winter, mainly in January and February, and in summer between June and September, apart from "emergency situations when one of the country's principal electricity supplies fails during peak demand."