The Marsa Power Station will have to stop operating by the end of 2015, meaning that the zone where the power station is situated today would be able to be developed.
Enemalta Chairman Alexander J. Tranter said this during a consultation meeting with Labour about the regional development plan for the Grand Harbour yesterday.
Tranter explained that the Marsa Power Station has been in use since the 1960s and its age is now causing certain problems related to its operation. At the same time, according to EU Directives it is considered an old power station and would have to stop operating at some time or another.
As from the beginning of January 2008 the Marsa Power Station will be given a limit of 20,000 hours of operating time, and when this quota is used up it must stop functioning.
By the end of 2015 it has to stop operating for good, irrespective of whether the quota has been used up or not.
The Enemalta Chairman said that this will mean that the country will have a large piece of land that can be used for the development of new opportunities.
According to Tranter, on this land there should not be further development of energy-generating facilities.
Until now, half of the country’s energy supply originates from the Marsa Power Station.
In view of all this, Enemalta’s plans are to increase capacity from the Delimara Power Station while at the same time the corporation is exploring the possibility of installing a cable link between Sicily and Malta.
The Enemalta Chairman said that the Grand Harbour is one of the most beautiful ports in the world and offers opportunities of development if it is utilised properly.