Kurt Sansone
Inquiry board for chemical burning claim ‘being set up’
Results ‘at the earliest possible’
Rusting metal tanks outside the St Paul’s fireworks factory in Rabat where Enemalta is alleged to have burnt the chemical mercaptan in 2009. Photo: Jason Borg
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.
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Mr Edward Mallia
Sep 29th 2011, 16:24
The transformer oil in question went by the collective name of polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCB for short). It was supposed to have gone out of use by the mid-1980s. The substance itself is toxic and its incomplete combustion produces furans, also toxic. We need to know if this material is still knocking around somewhere like Kordin, and if not, how and where it was disposed of. Perhaps this matter could be included in the terms of reference of the Mercaptan Inquiry. We do not want another unpleasant discovery to be sprung on us.
Mr Edward Mallia
Sep 29th 2011, 12:54
@ Michael Cauchi: Dear Sir, In September 2009, the competent (??) auhtorities were trying to take us all for a ride on another matter, to wit the return of The Black Dust to Fgura and the surrounds. So their abilities in these matters should not be underestimated. They are still desperately trying to fool all of the people all of the time on the black dust fall, with Enemalta denying central responsibility, Mepa taking five months to 'evaluate' a 20-page report which Enemalta 'demolished' in one press release; a permanent secretary not knowing what's what by way of parliamentary procedure etc. But all this apart, this Mercaptan episode has brought to mind another matter involving Enemalta. Sometime past the year 2000, Enemalta had large quantities of used transformer oil -- the correct chemical name escapes me-- it was keen to dispose of. As the oil is a hazardous if not downright toxic material, Enemalta was in a quandary. Some asked me to try and find out if the Chemistry Department at University would agree to dispose of it. I refused even to ask. I wonder what happened to this material. At some stage it was probably stored at the Corradino underground power station. Maybe it is still there. Enemalta ought to know.
Mr Victor Calleja
Sep 29th 2011, 12:01
Who was responsible for the decision to burn these chemicals should face the board and be accountable. Is it the same person who decided to import this chemical to mix with the LPG when all imported LPG is already mixed with this chemical?
I hope that the results of the inquire is not kept on the shelves because somebody will get married and forgets all about it.
Michael Cauchi
Sep 29th 2011, 09:15
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090905/local/no-idea-of-foul-smell-source.272220
Were we taken for a ride by all the competent authorities back then????