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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2014 News 6 NATIONALIST MEP Roberta Met- sola has submitted a petition to the European Parliament urging the Eu- ropean Commission to investigate the risk to the public's safety by the Government's plans to berth a float- ing liquefied gas storage unit close to shore. "Over the past weeks and days I have met with many concerned citizens of the towns and villages that are most affected by this proposed project and they cannot understand why these unnecessary risks are being taken in this manner," Metsola said. "In contrast, other EU Member States with similar projects, such as those off the Italian ports of Livorno and Ancona, have ensured that safety is paramount and that the legitimate concerns of residents were addressed by stationing the depot a safe dis- tance away from them, with proper security zones around the vessel. None of the above safety provisions are envisaged in the Maltese Govern- ment's proposed intentions." The EU's SEVESO II Directive lays down that member states shall pro- hibit the use of any establishment, installation or storage facility, where the measures taken by the operator for the prevention and mitigation of major accidents are seriously de- ficient saying that petitioners were understandably concerned that the project will violate the Directive. Marsaxlokk bay already houses a concentration of power generation and fuel storage facilities as well as very busy, in-bay shipping move- ments of the Malta Freeport. Only a preliminary Quantitative Risk As- sessment has so far been carried out and no Maritime Risk Assessment has been carried out. "The risks associated with the implementation of the project of conversion of power facilities to gas would be greatly mitigated if the gas storage for this plant be moved to a secure location and a safe distance from residential areas, outside the bay. As the only Maltese Member of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee I had a duty and a re- sponsibility to act," Metsola said. Notice of meeting to be held in public e Malta Environment & Planning Authority will meet on ursday 20 th February, 2014 at 14:00 hours at the MEPA boardroom, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana, to discuss the following: RECONSIDERATION OF SCHEDULING VILLA MEKRECH, GĦAXAQ Subject to the maximum seating capacity, seats can be reserved on request for the applicant and registered objectors. Remaining seating is lled on a rst come rst served basis. RESERVATIONS: 2290 2018 14 th Februaury, 2014 www.mepa.org.mt Gas pipeline only safe option for LNG in Marsaxlokk JAMES J. PISCOPO A gas pipeline would be the best solution to avoid an unnecessary security risk due to the transporta- tion of liquefied natural gas, Alter- nattiva Demokratika said today. Addressing a press conference in Marsaxlokk Bay, AD chairperson Arnold Cassola and deputy chair- person Carmel Cacopardo said the risk of an explosion from the trans- portation of LNG from a f loating terminal was minimal but required the creation of a buffer zone. The government plans for a new 200MW gas power plant include the storage of LNG on a f loating terminal in Marsaxlokk bay. "Other countries, like Tuscany in Italy, have created a security zone that is 7km wide. Malta does not even have two kilometres' space for a buffer zone. That's why a gas pipeline to Sicily is the only solu- tion to reduce any risk." They said that this puts those residing in Marsaxlokk at peril, while also compromises Marsax- lokk 's fishing industry and other nearby operations, including the Freeport. They said that so far, studies car- ried out such as Roberto Vaccari's risk analysis in the same EIA, have not taken into consideration other installations in the Port of Mar- saxlokk. "Installations such as the oil tanking on the port's edge, the Qajjenza, and the oil storage at San Luċjan, are all ticking time bombs in the same area. An inci- dent might trigger other incidents, which would result into a domino effect of severe repercussions," Carmel Cacopardo said. He stated that Vaccari's risk re- port is inconclusive because whilst it carries out an analysis, it does not proceed to the logical conclu- sions of how the project will im- pact the other activities currently ongoing in Marsaxlokk. "Vaccari does not arrive at any conclusion under the cover that the risk analysis is simply a pre- liminary assessment." AD said it remained in favour of the energy shift to gas, but said gov- ernment had to ensure residential, commercial and environmental se- curity for the southern region. "Sources have told us that the Armed Forces would be closing off the port during the refuelling of the f loating terminal: this is not a solution to any risks that the ter- minal might carry." Cassola and Cacopardo remarked that while it is known that mari- time movements within the port would be severely affected, the EIA remained silent on this matter. "All this should have led to the conclusion that the unloading and storage of gas at Marsaxlokk is a source of danger to both residents and the country's economy." Metsola leads EU petition on LNG risk Bendy buses sold to Sudan THE infamous Arriva bendy bus- es have been sold for a total of €601,200 – VAT excluded – to a Maltese company who offered to buy them. The buses will be ex- ported to Sudan. In a statement, the transport ministry said an expression of in- terest for the sale of bendy buses closed on 14 February and the of- fers were analysed on Monday and Tuesday. "Three offers were submitted and the buses were sold to the highest bidder," the ministry said. Explaining the company will now sign an acceptance letter and sub- mit its deposit by 21 February, the ministry stopped short of saying who the successful bidder was. The ministry said the unnamed company was bound by the con- tractual agreement to export the bendy buses and the spare parts by not later than four weeks followed the signing of the contract. The bendy buses will be export- ed to Sudan. "Even though the bendy buses were not included in the negotia- tions between Arriva and the gov- ernment, the income from the sale will be transferred to Malta Public Transport Services," the ministry said. According to the ministry, the bendy buses did not cost anything to the government. AD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo (left) and AD chairperson Arnold Cassola Roberta Metsola

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