Inquiry board for chemical burning claim ‘being set up’
Results ‘at the earliest possible’
An inquiry board tasked to investigate allegations that Enemalta illegally disposed of a chemical by burning it in an open field is in the process of being formed, two days after Finance Minister Tonio Fenech ordered an investigation.
A ministry spokesman yesterday confirmed the board of inquiry was “being set up”. Asked when the ministry expected the board to start functioning, the spokesman said the minister asked the Permanent Secretary to establish the board on Monday evening.
“His (the minister’s) emphasis was to deliver results at the earliest possible,” the spokesman said without giving a target date.
When asked whether any Enemalta officials would be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, the spokesman said any decision will be taken on the basis of “the conclusions of the inquiry board”.
Media reports on Monday alleged that in 2009 Enemalta had instructed some of its employees to dispose of 10 barrels containing 450 gallons of the chemical Mercaptan by burning it in a field on the outskirts of Rabat that belongs to the St Paul’s fireworks factory.
Mercaptan is a smelly gas that is normally added to LPG household gas to give it odour.
At the time of the alleged burning there were numerous reports of a bad smell in various parts of Malta, the cause of which was never identified. Enemalta had assured the public there was no danger and none of its sites were leaking.
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority on Monday confirmed it had not authorised any burning of hazardous chemicals in an open field and launched an investigation into the matter.
Enemalta was reported to have ended up with a supply of Mercaptan when it discontinued adding it to LPG since it started importing the gas for household use already mixed with Mercaptan. The unused stock was temporarily stored underground at the former Corradino power station but a leak in 2009 caused foul smells in the area and Enemalta management is alleged to have decided to dispose of the chemical.