Enemalta continues dismantling of HFO-fired plants

06.01.2017

Enemalta plc is continuing the decommissioning and dismantling of its old, HFO-fired plants at Marsa and Marsaxlokk as part of its plan for the development of an efficient, environment-friendly electricity generation mix for the Maltese Islands.

A few days ago, the Company, in collaboration with the relevant Government of Malta procurement authorities, concluded a process for the selection of an international contractor to dismantle the 1992 HFO-fired plant at the Delimara Power Station, including its 150-metre chimney. Following a rigorous adjudication process, the submissions of the Italian company General Smontaggi were recommended as the best offer for this project.

The process was concluded as soon as the objection period ended and the relevant authorities confirmed that none of the bidders had filed any objections or requests to reconsider the award recommendation. When the recommended bidder was identified earlier in December, all bidders were informed that they had 20 days to present any appeals for reconsideration or objections. None of the eight international companies that competed in this process registered any objection.

Enemalta plc will now start planning the details of the dismantling process with the recommended bidder, who is required to present detailed method statements and safety plans for the approval of the Company and of the relevant authorities. All method statements need to be approved by the authorities before any works on site can commence. During the tendering process all bidders were specifically asked to demonstrate extensive experience in the demolition of high structures, to make sure they have the technical capability and resources to safely demolish the plant’s chimney.

Established in 1984, the recommended bidder has over 30 years experience in the decommissioning and dismantling of industrial plants, using an extensive fleet of demolition machinery. The Company has been entrusted with plant dismantling projects by some of Europe’s largest energy and manufacturing companies.

Enemalta architects, engineers and project managers will be supervising the contractor to ensure that the dismantling works do not compromise the security of other electricity generation and distribution infrastructure within the Delimara Power Station site.

The 1992 Delimara Power Station Phase 1 plant includes two HFO-fired conventional boilers feeding two 60 MW turbo alternator steam turbines, a chimney and other auxiliary equipment. The chimney, a 12-metre diameter concrete and steel construction rising 150 metres above ground level, is the highest structure in the Maltese Islands. The reinforced concrete chimney walls are over two metres thick at the bottom and 0.6 metres on top. They house two steel flues with an inside diameter of 2.3 metres.

The dismantling of the Delimara 1 plant will begin as soon as the new gas-fired CCGT Delimara 4 plant is commissioned and the HFO-fired Delimara 3 plant is fully-converted to run on natural gas.

At this stage, Enemalta will have the necessary capacity to provide the country with an adequate level of security of supply whilst ending the use of heavy fuel oil for electricity generation. This transformation will lead to major air quality improvements, a drastic reduction in Malta’s carbon footprint and a cost-effective electricity generation mix that ensures the long-term sustainability and stability of the current low electricity tariffs for residential and business customers.

Once the gas-fired plants are in full operation, Enemalta will also continue the dismantling of the remaining plants at the Marsa Power Station. Some of these plants are still being kept on cold standby for security of supply during emergencies. In the meantime, during the first months of 2017 Enemalta will continue the dismantling of the Marsa Power Station plants that are no longer on cold standby. This includes the full dismantling of Units 1 to 4, Unit 8 and their respective auxiliary equipment and chimneys.

Enemalta plc is committed to its ongoing investment in the development of an environment-friendly and cost-effective electricity generation mix and in the reinforcement of the national electricity grid to continue improving the quality of its services whilst consolidating its long-term financial sustainability.