The Freeport has renounced the controversial environmental permit it was given in April to perform oil rig maintenance.

Mepa informed its Appeals's Tribunal of the applicant's decision in a letter dated June 9.

The government had said it would appeal Mepa’s decision granting the Freeport a year-long permit to repair oil rigs.

Birzebbuga local council had also voiced its opposition to the permit and both the PN and the PL representatives on the board voted against.

Altrenattiva Demokratika had argued the permit was not in line with the law since it breached planning requirements.

AD deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo had argued that the existing Freeport development permit dealt with the use of facilities as a transhipment base and not as a centre where ships were repaired.

He said that for the Freeport to extend its activities to include the maintenance of oil rigs, a new application was required to revise the existing development permit.