The Marsa power station has used up over half its available hours of operation and at the current rate will have to be shut down earlier than the 2015 deadline, possibly as soon as 2012, figures show.

The EU's limit on the Marsa power station's operational hours means time is pressing for the availability of new energy generation facilities, and the next three years are crucial.

The four units at the Marsa power station have used 11,403, 10,585, 11,095 and 13,229 hours respectively, according to figures presented in Parliament last Tuesday by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.

Responding to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Leo Brincat, Mr Fenech said the four units at the plant were well within the 20,000-hour operational limit imposed on the plant by the EU. But the hours used up actually amount to over half its allotted time, consumed in only two years.

At this rate, the remaining hours will only permit another two years of operation, which means the plant would have to shut down in 2012 rather than 2015.

However, figures show consumers have become more cautious with energy consumption since 2005 - the year the surcharge was introduced. Increased tariffs could therefore serve to restrict demand further and extend the old power station's lifeline before it is finally put to sleep.

The 20,000-hour limit on the power station's operations, set by the EU's Large Combustion Plant Directive, is aimed at stemming emissions of hazardous substances that can adversely affect human health.

The concern is particularly related to respiratory health leading to the exacerbation of asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Under the EU directive, power stations that do not meet the specified emission standards must either install appropriate pollution control equipment or close down once the 20,000-hour limit has expired.

Enemalta's Generation Plan 2006-2015 acknowledged that pollution control equipment for the Marsa power station was "not economically viable". The same report stated that the Marsa power station "contributes both to a high fuel bill as well as environmental impact".

The Delimara power plant extension is planned for 2011, but will only produce about 150 MW, which is not enough to replace the Marsa power station's capacity of generate around 250MW.

This means the government cannot close down the Marsa power station until the submarine cable linking Malta with Sicily is in place - a fact that is acknowledged in an environmental impact study on the Delimara power station extension. The deadline for the completion of the cable is 2012.

In the EU, Malta is the only member state still fully dependent on fossil fuels for its energy needs. The country is also obliged to meet 10 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2020.

In a report drawn up by the Malta Resources Authority and submitted to the EU, Malta forecasts it will reach 9.2 per cent of its 10 per cent mandatory renewable energy target by 2020.

But towards the end of the report, the MRA stresses that the forecast is based on an "optimistic scenario".

cmuscat@timesofmalta.com