Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/279808
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2014 News 6 JAMES DEBONO In an attempt to allay concerns amongst Marsaxlokk residents, the case officer report recommending the approval of the new gas storage vessel in Marsaxlokk claims the gov- ernment is still "actively pursuing" the development of a gas pipeline which would eventually replace the gas storage vessel located in Marsax- lokk bay. But the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has no idea about the timeframes involved and whether such a project is compatible with the 18-year gas purchasing agreement between the government and the Electro Gas consortium, which will be importing natural gas from its own sources. Over past weeks, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has also mentioned the possibility of shipping away the vessel to make way for a pipeline, in his bid to allay concerns of residents. On 10 March, Muscat claimed that, once the government secured funds for the pipeline project, it would re- place the gas storage tanker with a pipeline, not necessarily linking Mal- ta to Europe but even to a country to the south of Malta. But questions sent last week to the Ministry for Energy on whether a gas pipeline is a compatible with the 18- year contract with Electro Gas con- sortium remained unanswered by the time of going to print. The case officer report presented to MEPA with regards to the application for the new FSU and re-gasification plant states that the government is still actively pursuing the possibil- ity of having a gas pipeline link to a mainland. In such cases, the FSU can be shipped away to make way for the long-term solution. A spokesperson for MEPA con- firmed that the Authority had sought the government's verification for the statement made in the report and "that the government is still pursuing this project". But the same spokesperson made it clear that the case officer report "does not make reference to the number of years that are required to develop such pipeline". The MEPA spokesperson under- lined the fact that the Malta Energy Policy approved by the previous gov- ernment in December 2012 makes specific reference to a gas pipeline and this has not been changed. "The policy refers to a proposal for the connection of Malta to the Euro- pean natural gas network via a pipe- line and establishes that this would be connected to the Delimara Power Station." When asked whether this is compat- ible with Enemalta's contractual obli- gations with Electro Gas, the MEPA spokesperson made it clear that this falls outside the remit of MEPA. MaltaToday asked the Ministry whether the gas supply and gas pur- chasing agreements between En- emalta and Electro Gas consortium foresee the eventuality of Malta im- porting gas directly through a pipe- line. MaltaToday also asked the govern- ment to explain how the development of a pipeline would impinge on the 18-year gas supply agreement with Electro Gas consortium and whether the idea of a gas pipeline can co-exist with an 18-year gas supply/purchas- ing agreement. The government did not reply to these questions or to the question on the progress made on an application for EU funding for the gas pipeline. MEPA will be taking a decision on whether to approve the gas storage terminal on 24 March. Energy minister reassures power plant is 'safe' JURGEN BALZAN DESCRIBING the planned gas- powered plant in Delimara as "a project of national importance," En- ergy Minister Konrad Mizzi denied that things were done 'hastily'. Mizzi was speaking during the three-hour parliamentary debate on the new gas-fired power station in Delimara and its environmental impact. In his address to Parliament, PN leader Simon Busuttil reiterated that unlike government, the Op- position was "listening to the resi- dents' concerns," and announced a rally for Marsaxlokk and Birzebbu- gia residents on Sunday. Though the proceedings were calm throughout the three-hour debate, as Mizzi concluded the ses- sion, tempers f lared as the Opposi- tion MPs demanded the minister to substantiate his claim that "the majority of Marsaxlokk and Birzeb- bugia residents were in favour of the project". This prompted an angry reac- tion by PN whip David Agius, who repeatedly yelled "shame on you" which provoked the Speaker of the House to threaten to suspend the sitting. After the Speaker admonished unruly MPs on both sides of the House for their "shameful" behav- ior, things returned to normal after the minister tabled the document he was quoting and confirmed that he was referring to the residents' ap- proval of the plant as a whole and not to the f loating LNG storage. However, as the sitting was being adjourned, parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia and Opposition MPs lost their temper, with both ac- cusing each other of turning parlia- ment into a "garbage dump". While stressing that "no short cuts were taken," the energy minis- ter kicked off the debate by insist- ing that, as confirmed by the report compiled by George Papadakis, a SEVESO Directive expert, the project poses no risk to residents in Marsaxlokk, Birzebbugia and sur- rounding localities. He also reassured that the trans- fer of gas from large vessels to the LNG storage which will be berthed inside the Marsaxlokk bay was safe and would not impact on the use of the port, which hosts a number of other facilities, including the Malta Freeport. "The Opposition is clutching at straws, after trying to alarm the people over the gas storage facili- ties, it is now trying to create alarm over the use of the port." Mizzi explained that simulation tests carried out by Transport Mal- ta had confirmed that the transfer of gas – which will only happen around 10 times a year – would have no negative effect on the port and this would not be closed down during such operations. Despite the Opposition's scare- mongering, safety and security are a top priority for government, the minister said, adding that, "the Opposition is not interested in the truth, but it is only interested in scaremongering and scoring politi- cal points". "The Opposition has zero cred- ibility on energy," he added, noting that the previous government had constructed a power plant running on the highly polluting heavy fuel oil. Pointing out that the power plant will allow government to reduce electricity tariffs, Mizzi said that thanks to the new plant, which is set to be commissioned next year, emis- sions will be drastically reduced. Explaining that the timeworn Marsa power plant and the Delima- ra phase 1 plant would be decom- missioned, Mizzi underlined the government's commitment to re- duce emissions and generate clean energy in both the new power plant and the BWSC plant, which will also be converted to gas. In reply, Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco said the "people expect realistic talk and not politi- cal speeches". De Marco called on the govern- ment to seek alternative solutions, such as anchoring the storage ves- sels outside the bay. "We are not telling the government to halt the project, we are simply saying that before connecting Malta to a gas pipeline, gas should be stored off- shore." Calling for "political maturity," de Marco said government should not present its proposal for approval by MEPA on Monday, and consider other options. Asserting that the PN's criticism was neither "negative nor destruc- tive," de Marco said the Opposition was only ref lecting the concerns raised by residents, The Green Par- ty and a number of NGOs. Insisting that he had no intention of attacking government's actions, de Marco said it would have been of greater benefit if MPs had listened to experts and residents rather than hold a series of monologues in the plenary. Noting that the opposition agreed with government in its attempts to convert energy generation to gas, reduce energy costs and connect Malta to a gas pipeline. "The disagreement lays in the method of how these aims will be reached. The government is acting hastily because of the timeframes it imposed on itself." Adding that the reduction in en- ergy tariffs were also made possible thanks to the previous investment in the Malta-Sicily interconnector and the BWSC plant which will be sold to the Chinese investors. However, reductions can also take place without the construction of a new power plant in the timeframe government has set, de Marco said. Explaining that LNG was dan- gerous, "like all f lammable gases are," de Marco called for caution and while warning that all parties should refrain from "exaggerating". Citing international regulations, de Marco said that safety could only be guaranteed if the area is free from ignition sources such as lightning strikes, open f lames such Attempted robbery in Rabat JOHN PISANI YESTERDAY afternoon, at around 2.30pm, the police were tipped off about three suspicious- looking men loitering around the Verdala Mansions in Rabat. The District Police, led by WPS Gra- ziella Camilleri, and units from the Rapid Intervention Unit led by PS Juan Mula Debono, were called in, and then surrounded the place. Upon arrival the police were in- formed that three men were seen MEPA in the dark about gas pipeline possibility The scene of the crime yesterday afternoon