Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson on Sustainable Development, stated that whilst the Delimara Power Station using gas instead of Heavy Fuel Oil will improve the air quality at Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga and the surrounding localities, it is clear that the worries of residents as expressed in the Social Impact Assessment are not being adequately addressed. The risk assessment on the gas stirage facility at Marsaxlokk Bay is far from convincing.

It is necessary and essential that the storage of gas for utilisation at the power station is carried out outside Marsaxlokk Bay. Alternattiva Demokratika is aware that the required technical solutions need time and substantial additional expense. It is however important, concluded Cacopardo that undue haste is swept aside and consequently that additional studies be carried out until there is no more doubt that all the risks to which the communities of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga have been exposed are adequately addressed.

AD Chairperson Prof Arnold Cassola stated: “The health and security of the residents of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga should be the foremost consideration. The national consensus on the use of gas for the generation of electricity should be implemented with full respect towards the residents. If this is not done, a time-bomb will be installed at Marsaxlokk Bay.”

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Id-Deputat Chairperson u kelliemi dwar l-Izvilupp Sostenibbli ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Carmel Cacopardo, qal li filwaqt li l-proposta ta’ Power Station f’Delimara li tahdem bil-gass flok bil-Heavy Fuel Oil ser twassal ghal titjib fil-kwalita’ tal-arja f’Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuga u l-inħawi tal-madwar, huwa ċar li l-preokkupazzjoni tar-residenti kif espressa fl-istudju dwar l-impatti soċjali għadhom m’humiex qed jiġu indirizzati b’mod adegwat. L-istudju dwar ir-riskji li l-gass maħzun fil-Bajja ta’ Marsaxlokk m’huwiex konvinċenti.

Huwa neċessarju, anzi essenzjali, li l-hażna tal-gass għall-użu tal-power station tinħareg barra mill-Bajja ta’ Marsaxlokk. Alternattiva Demokratika hi konxja li s-soluzzjonijiet tekniċi neċessarji jirrikjedu żmien u spejjeż addizzjonali sostanzjali. Imma huwa importanti, ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo li titwarrab l-għaġġla żejda u li għaldaqstant għandhom isiru dawk l-istudji addizzjonali neċessarji sakemm ma jibqa’ l-ebda dubju li r-riskji kollha li għalihom il-komunitajiet ta’ Marsaxlokk u Birżebbuġa ġew esposti huma indirizzati b’mod sodisfaċenti.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ AD, l-Professur Arnold Cassola, qal: “Is-saħħa u is-sigurta tar-residenti ta’ Marsaxlokk u Birżebbuga għandhom jiġu qabel kull konsiderazzjoni oħra. Il-kunsens nazzjonali dwar il-ħtieġa tal-użu tal-gass fil-ġenerazzjoni tal-elettriku għandu jitwettaq biss b’rispett sħiħ lejn ir-residenti. Jekk dan ma jsirx jidher li fil-Bajja ta’ Marsaxlokk ser tkun istallata bomba tal-ħin.”