Government of

PROPOSED NEW POWER STATION GIBRALTAR

FEBRUARY 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY INTRODUCTION

This Non-Technical Summary provides • A description of the need for the project; an overview, in non-technical • Details of the proposals and alternatives language, of the fi ndings contained considered; in the Environmental Statement for • The assessment of potential signifi cant the proposed new power station at environmental effects; and Lathbury Barracks, Gibraltar. • Details of any required mitigation.

The Environmental Statement records the fi ndings This is a public development project proposal of an Environmental Impact Assessment of the new by the . power station, and includes:

Approximate Site Location

1 NEED FOR THE PROJECT

Gibraltar will require a new power station to The 3 power stations (Waterport on the North There is a growth in the demand for electrical provide for growing energy needs and to replace Mole, OESCO in the building adjoining the energy from existing users in Gibraltar. There are 3 existing power stations whose engines have Europa Business Centre and ISGS situated in also several large scale developments planned reached, or are rapidly reaching, the end of their HM Naval Base) need to be replaced by 2011 from which the energy demand is predicted to operational lives. due to a combination of their age, condition and outstrip the current supply. environmental concerns as the generators are very old and are close to residential areas.

OESCO Power Station Waterport Power Station

2 ALTERNATIVES

Gibraltar is constrained by the limited amount of reliant in providing its own energy. Any source of Low sulphur diesel oil is currently used in Gibraltar land available for building a new power station. energy needs to be reliable, secure and sustained. as the only fuel for power generation and so is This is due to the small size of the country, the sheer already widely available and can be stored readily. landscape of the Rock, protected wildlife and its Alternative Power Technologies It does not pose a particularly high explosion or high density of population. Additionally Gibraltar fi re risk as it is not fl ammable. needs a sustained and secure supply of energy. Renewable sources of electrical energy could not satisfy the predicted demand on their own, and Natural gas is not currently available in Gibraltar In developing the proposals for the new power based on current technology would not provide a and would need to be piped in from another station, a number of alternatives were considered: secure and sustained supply. country, which could lead to signifi cant political and transboundary issues. If risks were considered A ‘Do-Nothing’ Scenario Renewable sources will be phased into the overall acceptable, it would take several years to organise Gibraltar power supply strategy to add to the and construct a pipeline connection and it would Delays to the planned retirement of the 3 existing main supply. Gibraltar is investigating the use of not be available in time for start-up of the new power stations could not be sustained for long wind turbines, energy from burning waste, marine power station in 2011. and would result in increasing unreliability and current generators and purchasing renewable potential for unplanned power outages, and energy from sources from outside Gibraltar. By Liquefi ed natural gas is natural gas that has been greater emissions to the environment as demand 2032 Gibraltar will provide at least 12 per cent converted to liquid form for ease of storage or increases. Future energy demands have also of its energy demand from renewable sources. transport. It is not considered practical or safe to been calculated to outstrip current supply. These site a receiving terminal in Gibraltar, which rules two factors would threaten Gibraltar’s security of Alternative Fuels out its potential use. energy supply. The available fuels for the proposed new power Biodiesel is an organic chemical produced by the Importing power from neighbouring countries is not station are diesel oil, natural gas, liquefi ed natural chemical reaction of a vegetable oil or animal possible for Gibraltar due to its geographic and gas and biodiesel. fat with an alcohol such as methanol. It can be political setting which means that it has to be self- used as a substitute for petroleum diesel. The

3 ALTERNATIVES

use of biodiesel has already been considered in down the possible location of the power station to sites on project costs and schedule. Gibraltar but it has been diffi cult to fi nd a cost several sites that could accommodate the power effective supply source that is from a guaranteed station infrastructure requirements. The location The site at is not available for transfer renewable source. If a suitable source is located options were: from the MoD, and also has the highest estimated it will be possible to use this, blended with diesel costs, and would require a change in use of the oil in the new power station and attain part of • Governor’s Cottage; area from residential/recreational to industrial. Gibraltar’s commitment to renewables. • Lathbury Barracks; Use of this site, if it did become available, will • NATO Distillery; potentially result in signifi cant visual, air quality Alternative Technologies • Tunnels at Arrow Street and Powers and noise effects on the surroundings. Due to Drive/Beefsteak Magazine; these constraints it is considered unlikely that High, medium and low speed diesel engines, gas • Western Beach Area – New Reclamation; this site can be developed within the required turbines and steam turbines have been considered • Windmill Hill Flats; timescale. for power generation. Medium speed diesel • Europa Point; and engine units in the power output range 6.5 to 8 • Aerial Farm. The site at Windmill Hill Flats has been Megawatts (MW) are deemed as appropriate discounted as it does not provide enough area because all of the units can be located within Space available at Governor’s Cottage, NATO for the required power station. Other constraints the available space and units of this size can be Distillery, Tunnels at Arrow Street and Tunnels at include its ongoing use by the MoD for training, operated satisfactorily at minimum loads in order Powers Drive were deemed too restricted and its unknown geology, its location within a to follow Gibraltar’s varying electricity demand. inadequate to house a power station, therefore European protected wildlife site and potential these sites have been removed from the alternative use as a wind farm site, along with the second Alternative Locations site assessment. highest of the capital costs. This site was not considered to be viable within the required Once the type of fuel and technology had been The remaining sites have been assessed for timescale. considered, the area of land required for the practical and logistical suitability, environmental power station could be calculated. This narrowed and planning constraints and the impact of the The potential site at Western Beach would

4 ALTERNATIVES

be situated very close to the airport runway, power stations are operating engines that have, Preferred Arrangement residential properties and the land frontier. In or shortly will be, exceeding their design life order to build a power station at this site, land and are therefore likely to be major contributors Following the site selection process, it was would need to be reclaimed from the sea for to the reduction in air quality in the area, as well considered that the Lathbury Barracks site offered which a more detailed EIA would be required as the fact that peak energy demand is rapidly the most suitable location for the new facility, as as well as the undertaking of a project specifi c approximating present generating capacity. it has suffi cient space for development and it is Aeronautical Study. Past aeronautical studies There is therefore considerable pressure on considered to have a lower degree of specifi c for reclamation at this location have identifi ed the Government of Gibraltar to expedite the problems when compared with other sites. potential impacts on airport safety which may construction of the new power station and opting take time to manage and remove. In addition, for this site would not, at the moment, provide The Lathbury Barracks site was considered to be this site will be severely constrained with any certainty of the programme to complete. the most viable site for Gibraltar’s power station regards to the positioning and heights of the when the various planning and consenting issues chimney stacks due to its close proximity to the The Lathbury Barracks site will have slightly were evaluated with the required runway. There are also planning issues such lower costs than the Western Beach site, but project timescale. as the impact on the surrounding residential is more diffi cult to access. It is environmentally properties and visual impact effects at close sensitive due its close proximity to a European Diesel oil is the only fuel that is likely to be proximity and the adjacent Airport, all of which protected wildlife site and also to new and available in time for commissioning in 2011. The may prove diffi cult to mitigate. A power station proposed residential and public use areas. With future use of biodiesel could easily contribute to at this location will give rise to signifi cant appropriate assessment and strict application Gibraltar’s renewable energy obligation and will transboundary environmental effects relating to of mitigating measures, these issues were not be investigated further. air quality, visual impact and water quality. This considered to be insurmountable within the will require due consultation and the timescale required timescale and this option has been for such consultation (and public participation) considered in more detail. will affect the essential project timescales. It should be further stressed that the three existing

5 THE SITE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

environmental gain

N The site of the proposed diesel power station is The area required for the development is The parade ground is currently used for car N situated towards the southern end of Gibraltar approximately 1.9 ha and includes the extent parking, and general unofficial public use. at the ex-MoD parade ground of Lathbury of the tarmaced area of the parade ground Prior to this it has been used by the MoD as Barracks. The location has been selected on up to the perimeter fencing on the south side. a parade ground, before which the area was the basis of available land area sufficient to The site also includes an area of land to open grassland. accommodate a diesel power station and the east of the parade ground that has the associated infrastructure capable of meeting the remains of an ex-MoD turfed pipe range on The site lies immediately to the south of ‘the

predicted 72 MW peak demand in the future. it, and a vegetated terraced area to the north Great Main Fault’ between the Main Ridge of environmental gain betweenN the parade ground and the existing Gibraltar and the Southern Plateau. Cliffs and Retrenchment Block. steep rock slopes bound the site to the east, with moreN gently inclined slopes to the west.

N

Approximate Site Area

Government of Gibraltar 6 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ES: VOLUME 3 N Proposed New Power Station, Lathbury Barracks, Gibraltar.

Figure 3-3: Photographs of Site Location

Government of Gibraltar

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ES: VOLUME 3 Proposed New Power Station, Lathbury Barracks, Gibraltar.

Figure 3-3: Photographs of Site Location THE NEW POWER STATION PROPOSALS

The following summarises the key aspects included in cooled generator, air intake and exhaust systems, and be located near the present incinerator. the concept design of the new power station at the control and instrumentation equipment. Lathbury Barracks site. Air blast radiators to cool the engine systems will The exhausts from the diesel engines will discharge be arranged horizontally outside the power station Proposed New Power Station via multi-fl ued chimneys (stacks) with a separate building. fl ue for each engine. The stack heights will provide The new power station will initially be based on the adequate dispersion of fl ue gases whilst minimising The plant will be designed to have an operational life use of diesel engines each with a generating output visual impact. The stacks will be approximately 40 m of 25 years. of 6.5 to 8 MW. Suffi cient numbers of engines will in height. There will initially be three stacks each with be provided such that the fi rm capacity (allowing for capacity for three fl ues, with a possible future further The new power station will be licensed controlled, maintenance) will cover the 2010 peak demand of stack, if needed, to be installed at a later date. and operated under Integrated Pollution Prevention 42 MW. The installation of further diesel generators and Control laws that protect the environment. may need to be phased in over a number of years, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) equipment will depending on the growth in demand and the take- also be installed, which will use urea to reduce Fuel Supply off of renewable energy options, failing which it is potentially polluting nitrogen oxides in the exhaust anticipated that a further three generating sets of gases. This system will be complete with storage The fuel supply system will consist of a new similar size will need to be installed between 2012 tanks, interconnecting pipework, off-loading facilities unloading line from the harbour on the boundary and 2032. Spatial provision will be made in the and pumping facilities for urea solution, prior to of the HM Naval Base and Cammell Laird Yard to power station design to house the additional future injection into the exhaust gas stream. allow discharge of diesel oil from coastal barges diesel generators. moored alongside the wharf. It will then be routed An off site urea solution receiving tank and pumping to the east side of Gibraltar via a new diesel oil Each generating unit consists of a single medium system will be installed at a suitable location accessible line running in the Admiralty East-West (Comcen) speed diesel engine with auxiliary equipment, an air to road tanker deliveries. This would most probably tunnel and along . The

7 THE NEW POWER STATION PROPOSALS

pipeline will then connect to new storage tanks • New 11 kV cable circuits from the • Temporary infi lling at points of sharp changes to be constructed inside the existing Admiralty Oil Eastside Distribution Centre to a new of gradient within the Dudley Ward tunnel Reservoir No 4 on the east side (the East Side Waterport distribution centre; and at the base of the Hole in the Wall Tanks). • Replacement of the existing 11 kV switchgear Road; at Jumper’s Bastion distribution centre to allow • Underpinning of the lower 25 – 30 metres Fuel transfer pumps will transfer the diesel oil to for connection of the new cable circuits from of the Hole in the Wall Road to prevent service tank(s) located at the power station via a Lathbury Barracks; and collapse where the road is already showing pipeline. • Provision of a new distribution centre to be signs of settlement; and located in the Mid Harbour area, to replace • Widening of some parts of the Hole in the Interconnecting Transmission System the existing distribution Wall Road, although avoiding the centre, together with interconnecting cabling listed heritage structure. The existing electricity distribution system will be from Jumper’s Bastion. extended in order to tie in the existing and new Landscaping facilities. It is envisaged that the distribution works Enabling Works will include the following: The site will be landscaped to include green areas It is envisaged that the following enabling works with native planting to provide corridors for wildlife • New 11 kilovolt (kV) cable circuits between will be required to enable the passage of large migration, and the administration offi ce and store the Lathbury Barracks power station and the and heavy loads to the power station site: building will include a roof suitable for ecological existing Jumper’s Bastion distribution centre; enhancement (known as a ‘brown roof’). • New 11 kV cable circuits between the • Underpinning of the road and provision of Lathbury Barracks power station and the steel plates to spread wheel loads on parts new Eastside Distribution Centre; of Sir Herbert Miles Road;

8 CONSTRUCTION

The construction period is estimated to take Prefabricated and sectional structures will be approximately 24 months. Working hours will brought to site by lorries and erected using mobile generally be between 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to cranes. Saturday. There will be an allowance for weekend and night working where absolutely necessary. The diesel engines will be brought to site in component parts on heavy low loaders via Sir Earthworks will be carried out using conventional Herbert Miles Road and the Dudley Ward tunnel. construction equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, compactors, dump trucks and tipper Welding equipment will be used for tank and pipe lorries. construction.

The total volume of excavated material will be approximately 15,000 m3. As far as possible, this excavated material will be graded and used on site once foundations are complete. Concrete may be produced on site using a small batching plant.

9 ASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSAL

The environmental assessment has been carried Relevant statutory and non-statutory organisations out at three levels: (eg Ministry for the Environment, Environmental Agency, Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural • Scoping the projects to ensure relevant studies History Society) have been consulted on the methods were included; for assessing the effects of the proposals and have • A comprehensive technical assessment; and assisted with information on the evaluation of the • Reporting on signifi cant effects drawn site and environmental sensitivities. together and summarised in this Non-Technical Summary. The environmental assessment has provided the power station designers with important information The assessment methodologies for each study were regarding the sensitivities of resources that could developed to refl ect current best practice. be affected by the proposed power station. The resulting design proposal has been developed The environmental issues that have been assessed to take account of these sensitivities and avoid as part of the EIA include: negative effects wherever possible.

• Air Quality; • Archaeology and Cultural Heritage; • Ecology; • Land Contamination; • Landscape Character and Visual Amenity; • Land Use; • Noise and Vibration; and • Socio-Economics.

10 LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION: Construction Practice and Detailed Design

The Construction Environmental Management Plan detailed design and an Operational Environmental sets out the measures that will be undertaken by Management Plan that will manage, avoid, the Contractor (the organisation the Government of monitor and react to potential signifi cant changes Gibraltar selects to design and build the scheme) to the environment. In particular, this will monitor to ensure a safe site and good site practice with and control air emissions that may be harmful to regard to the environment during construction sensitive vegetation and wildlife. activities. The measures will control noise, dust, site discharges, night time lighting, and works’ traffi c. The Government’s chosen Contractor will develop a

11 LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION: Specifi c Mitigation Measures

The Government of Gibraltar is committed to and will Air Quality These emissions would however not cause any of ensure implementation of all necessary mitigation the health-based objectives to be exceeded due to measures to avoid or reduce any signifi cant During the construction there is the potential for the measures that have already been built into the environmental effects from the construction or buildings and residents within the area to design of the power station. operation of the new power station. The Government experience adverse effects from small particles will conduct an additional environmental assessment of dust. These effects will be minimal because There may be increases in nitrogen deposition should the new power station be decommissioned of effective site management as detailed in the on European protected wildlife sites, which may in the future. Construction Environmental Management Plan. have an effect on vegetation. A programme for monitoring nitrogen deposition will be established Coinciding with the coming into operation of the new in order to monitor this and corrective action, eg station, the three existing power stations at ISGS, by altering the level of removal of nitrous oxides or OESCO and Waterport will be decommissioned. changing the stack heights. The impact of these existing power stations has been modelled, and it has been demonstrated that these facilities are currently contributing to poor air quality conditions in the vicinity of . The proposed new cleaner power station technology with the decommissioning of the older power stations will thus bring benefi cial effects to these areas.

The operation of the new station may result in increases in sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate emissions, in certain areas, leading to a degradation in the air quality of those areas.

12 LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION: Specifi c Mitigation Measures

Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Ecology loss, light pollution, disruption of movement and accidental fuel spillages. Although a number of During the excavation and construction works, The ecological assessment has identifi ed plants mitigation measures will be applied, there will be artefacts may be encountered lying beneath or and animals of potential sensitivity in the area. a potential residual signifi cant effect. within the ground. Any signifi cant archaeological fi nds associated with the windmills, anti-aircraft Good practice construction measures, such as By retaining a ‘corridor’ of land from the north to emplacements or any other archaeology that dust suppression techniques and low spill lighting, to the south side of the site, Barbary partridge, reptiles is exposed will be recorded and dealt with avoid possible effects to wildlife such as bats, birds and invertebrates will be able to move between by agreement with the relevant conservation and reptiles will be incorporated into the Construction habitats either side of the power station. authority. Environmental Management Plan. Damage to or destruction of habitat or birds (including the protected Barbary partridge) will be avoided by undertaking potentially damaging works such as scrub removal outside of the bird breeding season.

During operation, an increase in nitrogen deposition may affect the integrity of European protected sites. Monitoring and management to maintain grassland species diversity under the infl uence of increased nitrogen deposition will be undertaken.

Landscaping using locally native vegetation will help reduce the amount of habitat loss, however there will still be a low signifi cant effect after mitigation. Bats may be affected by a small area of habitat

13 LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION: Specifi c Mitigation Measures

Land Contamination Landscape Character and Visual Amenity of the power station to provide a neat and well ordered facility using good quality materials and There is a low risk of exposing contaminated soil The magnitude of change to local and wider fi nishes. As the few clear views of the facility will during excavation or the accidental spillage of landscape character of the area is considered to be from the Upper Rock, it will be seen mainly chemicals, that may prove a hazard to human be low to medium with the new power station. against the background of the Lathbury military and health or vegetation. Contaminated material, industrial area. Colours will be generally buffs or where found, will be separated and disposed of The construction of the power station may light greys to fi t with this landscape background. under license from the appropriate authority to a affect viewpoints of the Lathbury Barracks area. Operational controls to minimise the production of registered landfi ll. The Construction Environmental Mitigation measures will be managed through the visible plume will also be implemented. Some views Management Plan will include pollution control Construction Environmental Management Plan, from the Mediterranean Steps Path, the view from measures and these will be agreed with the including robust and attractive hoarding around Jew’s Gate and some residences may experience regulatory authority. the site and control of vehicle movements. residual signifi cant visual effects even after mitigation has been included as part of the design. Care will be taken with the quality of the design

LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND VISUAL AMENITY ES: VOLUME 3 14

Figure LV3-3:Viewpoints 1 and 2 LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION: Specifi c Mitigation Measures

Land Use

A construction compound will be located on site, The parade ground is currently owned by the and secondary construction compounds will be MoD and is used as a storage area for a located further from site as there is not enough room vehicle company. The Parade Ground is also within the site boundary to store large components occasionally used by the general public for or quantities of materials. The Contractor will general recreational activities. Although this is assess any environmental consequences and will not an official designation, there is no possible avoid or reduce signifi cant noise, disturbance, mitigation for the permanent change in land use vibration, traffi c, air quality, fragmentation of land which will result in a low but adverse significant and general pollution in the choice of available residual effect. land.

15 LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION: Specifi c Mitigation Measures

Noise and Vibration Socio Economic

Construction noise at the nearby Firing Range If employment for construction of the power station Office (MoD) will be mitigated by erecting is sourced in Gibraltar, it will be benefi cial for the temporary hoardings of 2.5 m in height on local economy, and therefore steps will be made the western boundary of the site, which will to encourage this as far as practicable. reduce noise levels sufficiently that the use of the building as an office will not be affected Communities immediately surrounding the new during the construction period. power station may experience a combination of effects from noise, visual changes, and air In order to mitigate operational noise effects quality changes. Tourists visiting the area are likely on adjoining areas, mitigation measures will to experience similar effects. These potentially be built into the design of the power station, signifi cant effects will be managed through the including high efficiency silencers in the Construction Environmental Management Plan and exhaust stacks, low noise cooling radiators mitigation to the design of the power station. and careful design in the acoustics of the engine hall. Supplementary noise monitoring will also be carried out to ensure that noise levels are at an acceptable level.

16 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

The proposed power station construction will There are other planned developments proposed mitigation applied, no cumulative signifi cant have an adopted Construction Environmental within the vicinity of the new power station adverse effects are anticipated. Management Plan that will provide control proposals. Many are small scale or are suffi ciently measures for noise, dust, lighting, and construction distant from these proposals that there will be no The operation of the proposed new power station traffi c. The plan will be agreed with the relevant predicted cumulative adverse effect. The only will allow decommissioning of the 3 existing power regulatory authorities. A site health and safety plan development considered to result in potential stations, which will improve air quality. will also be adopted which will include signage, temporary signifi cant effects during construction is hoarding and fencing. With these plans in place that of the new prison facility, where combined temporary construction effects will be reduced and lighting effects with the power station may have managed. an impact on migratory birds. However with

17 FURTHER INFORMATION

The Government of Gibraltar has submitted the The Environmental Statement has been A copy of the full ES can be viewed at: Environmental Statement to the Development managed by Environmental Gain Ltd, on and Planning Commission to assist in its behalf of the Government of Gibraltar, with Gibraltar Town Planner’s Offi ce, Department of deliberations and in considering the project. The technical contributions from a team of engineers Trade, Industry and Communications, Suite 631, Environmental Statement has been submitted in and consultants. Environmental Gain Ltd is Europort, Gibraltar. accordance with the requirements of the Town an independent environmental assessor with Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) experience of undertaking EIAs of similar Further copies of the full Environmental Statement are Regulations, 2000 (the EIA Regulations) and redevelopment proposals internationally and available on request from Environmental Gain Ltd, EC EIA Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended within Gibraltar. The assessment team has been Environmental Gain Ltd, The Old Church School, by Directive 97/11/EC). Under the EIA drawn from a highly experienced group of Butts Hill, Frome, Somerset, UK BA11 1HR,, email: Regulations the Government will seek to obtain specialists that are practised in the techniques of [email protected]. A charge will be made to cover an EIA Certificate for the project. The EIA follows environmental assessment for their subject area the costs of reproduction: £150 will be charged for industry recognised standards. and dealing with projects of a similar nature full paper copies and £50 will be charged for CD and scale. versions. Additional copies of this Non-Technical Summary are available on request at no additional charge via email.

18 Government of Gibraltar

This Environmental Statement has been produced by Environmental Gain Ltd on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar. These documents can be viewed at Gibraltar Town Planner’s Offi ce, Department of Trade, Industry and Communications, Suite 631, Europort, Gibraltar. Further copies can be obtained from Environmental Gain Ltd.

Copyright: No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the permission of Environmental Gain Ltd or the Government of Gibraltar.