Findings of smelly gas inquiry ‘must be published’

The findings of a six-month-old inquiry into the illegal disposal of a hazardous chemical by Enemalta must be published “immediately”, according to the opposition.

The findings are still under wraps despite the Finance Ministry promising earlier this year that they would “soon” be published.

Labour environment spokesman Leo Brincat yesterday hit out at the ministry, accusing it of lacking transparency.

“It is clear that Minister Tonio Fenech is doing all in his power to lengthen the process and postpone decisions on the Mercaptan case,” Mr Brincat said.

In February, Mr Brincat added, the minister told Parliament that he was waiting for Enemalta’s reaction to the inquiry report and their recommendations for disciplinary action.

The case goes back to 2009 when Enemalta was alleged to have 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.

Mercaptan is a smelly gas that is added to LPG household gas to give it its 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.

But last September media reports linked the 2009 bad smell incident to the illegal disposal of Mercaptan, which prompted the ministry to launch the inquiry. The government has so far refused to divulge the names of the inquiry board members.

Mr Brincat urged the minister to say what disciplinary action was taken by Enemalta and when.