Feb 17 - ESG Concerned About “Heavy Flaring” From CEPSA Refinery
The Environmental Safety Group says that just 48 hours after the European Commission replied to a question from Gibraltar MEP Ashley Fox, “heavy flaring” was seen coming from the CEPSA refinery.
In response to Mr Fox, who asked a question the ESG had requested, the European Commission declared that according to their information, the CEPSA refinery does not breach any environmental regulations and, that despite known high levels of pollutants such as nickel, among others, that there is no longer a problem here.
A statement from the ESG continued: “Flaring releases large volumes of harmful toxins, especially when it does not burn cleanly, and should only be used for emergency purposes. Flaring is usually used when an incident has occurred, or there has been a power outage. The ESG was very concerned to see excessive flaring at the plant continue for hours resulting in heavy, thick fumes entering the airspace in neighbouring towns and surrounding environment as recorded in photographs taken.
“Monday morning arrives with the sweet and sickly smells of the Refinery reaching the south of Gibraltar suggesting the flaring has continued well into the night.
“The ESG will be lodging a formal complaint with the European Commission to insist they investigate standards at the CEPSA Refinery Plant that are clearly still dangerous to citizens in the Bay who have to breathe in its emissions day in, day out.”
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