Mepa’s chief executive officer Johann Buttigieg said the authority’s proposal that fuel stations in Outside Development Zones should not exceed three tumoli (3,000 sq m) of land had not, as yet, been accepted by the government.

Speaking before the Environment and Development Planning Committee, Mr Buttigieg said that fuel station policies had hitherto been regulated by the Structure Plan Policies, until the recent policy for fuel stations proposed they be relocated outside urban areas.

A balance had to be found and this compromise was reached through relocating existing fuel stations in urban areas to ODZ areas, while new fuel stations had to be located in industrial areas.

Petrol stations in Natura 2000 sites and other sensitive areas were prohibited.

Appropriate steps to protect the environment, in line with established European standards, were being proposed.

Paul Agius Delicata, chief executive officer of Gasco Energy Ltd, the operator responsible for importation, storage and bottling of Liquified Petroleum Gas in Malta, said the company he represented was planning to start making gas cylinders available from petrol stations for the convenience of the public.

Mr Buttigieg said this was not being considered in the current policy proposal.

With the proposal coming so late, he said, this had to be studied even in view of the EU’s Seveso requirements.

The chairman and the members of the committee directed Mepa to study the matter in detail and report back.

Mepa’s assistant director Frans Mallia said the team which had formulated the policy was interdisciplinary and included members of the health, civil protection, transport and other related entities.

Alfred Baldachino, for Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, complained that the policy has scant regard for the protection of biodiversity and the general care of the environment.