No increase of particulate matter from BWSC plant despite use of heavy fuel oil

An assessment of air quality in Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga following the commissioning of the BWSC power plant using heavy fuel oil has found no evidence that the power station contributed to elevated concentrations of particulate matter. The assessment, available on the Mepa website. Included a baseline analysis before the plant was commissioned, and an assessment afterwards. Two three-month post-commissioning reports produced in June and December 2013 did not indicate that the power station had contributed to any exceedances of the EU Limit Values for PM10 or PM2.5 during the period. The recorded exceedances of the daily mean Limit Value for PM10 were attributed to regional sources, sometimes specifically to Saharan dust events, or more localised events associated with wind directions other than from the direction of the power station. Mepa had issued a temporary IPPC permit authorised the operation of the Delimara power station extension.  The final decision regarding the final choice of fuel for the diesel engines was kept as a reserved matter following submission and analyses of ambient air monitoring data. The decision has to be taken by this March 31. The air monitoring...