Enemalta yesterday acknowledged that the filtration system that removes fumes produced from the fuel tanks of the power station extension has a missing valve, but insisted no foul smells were emerging from the facility.

The company was reacting to a statement earlier in the day by Labour MP Joe Mizzi, who complained about the odour coming from the fuel facility.

The complaint, in fact, followed a story in The Sunday Times, which revealed that Enemalta’s fuel storage tanks had a missing valve causing unfiltered fumes to escape into the air.

In his statement, Mr Mizzi said that heavy fuel oil stored in four tanks at the BWSC power station extension in Delimara has been causing foul smells over the area.

He said that although the power station had been using heavy fuel oil since 1992, the fuel had to date been maintained at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, practically eliminating the odours.

But the machines at the new BWSC plant used heavy fuel oil at much higher temperatures, sometimes exceeding 90 degrees.

When burnt at this temperature, heavy fuel oil produced a substantial amount of emissions as well as odours, the Labour MP said.

In its reaction, Enemalta said all four tanks where the fuel was stored at around 90 degrees were equipped with activated carbon filters that removed fumes that could escape from the tanks either when the tank was being heated up from cold or when the tank was being filled.

“There is however a missing valve on the system, which has been ordered and is expected to arrive soon.”

The corporation said that since last month, engineers have implemented a temporary solution; a water seal has been fitted to the tanks and this has proven to be effective and hardly any smells were noticeable in the vicinity of the tanks.