Sep 18 - Government Says GSD Has “Jumped The Gun” On LNG Concerns
The Government says that the comments from the Ministry of Defence on the power station project, contained in a letter dated 11 August 2015, “have been overtaken by events” and, as a result, show that “once again the Opposition have jumped the gun and chosen to attack the Government without being in possession of all the facts.”
The Government says that the letter dated 11th August failed to mention that a meeting had been arranged between Government, the Military Aviation Authority (MAA), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Bouygues, Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) and the Gibraltar Electricity Authority to discuss the Aeronautical Study and take mitigating action. At this meeting, the Government says that issues were raised by both the MAA and CAA, which were taken on board by Bouygues and NACO. Number Six says that, after this consultation process to address MOD concerns, a subsequent updated, revised and improved Aeronautical Study was delivered by Bouygues a few days before the DPC meeting. As a result of the consultation process the MOD expressed satisfaction with the ‘excellent working relationship’ between the RAF Station Commander and senior Bouygues representatives. The Government says that the MOD will be able to confirm that the revised Aeronautical Study is currently being reviewed by the RAF Station Commander and will in turn be presented to the MAA.
The Government adds that all three reports commissioned regarding the Aeronautical Study conclude that there are no safety concerns that would result from an LNG power station. Number Six repeats that LNG is a “significantly cleaner fuel than diesel” and as such the potential for an exhaust plume to adversely affect landing aircraft is “greatly reduced” in comparison with the existing diesel facilities currently in the airport vicinity.
A statement continued: “These are undisputable scientific facts. The hydrocarbon release from an LNG fuelled power station will be negligible and will not affect aircraft taking off and landing at our airport. Any thermal plumes emitted from the power station will cause a temperature change of less than two degrees Celsius and will have no significant impact on atmospheric turbulence. By dismissing these facts as an attempt to mislead the public the Opposition continue to reveal their sheer desperation for new lines of attack in their obsession to thwart a necessary and thus far successful project that will benefit the whole of Gibraltar for generations to come.”
The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “All the scientific evidence indicates that the proposed site for the LNG power station and storage facility is safe, secure and will have no negative impact on aviation. This is not my opinion or that of the Government. It is the result of meticulous scientific research and a long process of planning, consultation and revision. The Opposition’s allegations that the Government would take any risks that could possibly have any adverse effect on aviation safety or result in the closure of the airport are completely ridiculous and illogical. Interestingly, they come from a political party whose Chairman has a clear conflict of interest on this particular issue.”
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