Enemalta has engaged a chemistry expert and an architect to investigate three sites suspected to contain an illegally buried substance.
The three sites at Qajjenza, Delimara power station and an open site at Corradino next to the old power station, were used by the energy company in the past to store mercaptan.
Mercaptan is a pungent gas added to domestic gas cylinders to make leakage detection easier. It is also poses an acute health hazard.
The information was divulged in Parliament by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who was answering a question by Labour whip Joe Mizzi.
Mr Fenech said Enemalta had engaged the services of Alfred Vella, a chemistry professor, and architect Anthony Cassar to inspect the sites.
“If the inspections yield any suspicion of earth disturbance, ground penetrating radar will be used for a study on the possibility of buried material,” Mr Fenech said.
The study will be carried out by Terracore under the experts’ supervision.
In 2009 Enemalta had illegally disposed of extra stocks of mercaptan by burning the gas in a field in the outskirts of Mġarr. However, suspicions were raised as to whether some of the metal tanks containing the gas were also buried in the three sites.
A board of inquiry appointed by Mr Fenech had concluded that Enemalta did not dispose of mercaptan in the proper manner and the operation was carried out without the necessary permits.
The inquiry, tabled in Parliament last April, said possible criminal action was time-barred.
In 2009 when the burning incident happened, foul smells had spread across large areas of the island. Enemalta misleadingly had assured the public that none of its sites were responsible for the foul smells. The incident only came to light two years later.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com