Mepa defends Freeport extension decision

The planning authority has bound the Freeport to implement an environmental management system across its entire operation within the next two years.

Defending its decision to grant the Freeport a permit to extend its terminal, a move that has been fiercely opposed by residents, Mepa said the environmental management system would ensure that the operator implemented established international procedures that would minimise its environmental impact. That would reduce the plant's impact on the town and make sure it operated in an environmentally-sustainable manner.

The Freeport's environmental performance would be monitored, improved and controlled.

On Thursday, the Mepa board gave its go-ahead to the proposed extension of Terminal 1 by 130,000 square metres, just 11 months after turning down the original planning application.

The decision had residents storming out of the meeting.

The Labour Party yesterday expressed solidarity with the residents, saying the development would directly affect their quality of life.

Mepa, however, justified the decision: "The board approved this extension project because it was satisfied that, over the past 11 months, ever since it had refused the original planning application, the operators of the Freeport had started to concretely address environment operational concerns and adopt mitigation measures in the public interest."