Footage of an alleged illegal gas-filling activity at a plant in Luqa has raised safety concerns, with former Enemalta chairman Robert Ghirlando describing the filmed facility as “improvised” and “amateurish”.

The “video evidence” shot last November was presented to the authorities by Liquigas as “proof” that rival company Easygas was illegally filling Liquigas gas cylinders at its plant in Luqa. 

In the video, a gas distributor who was also involved in this operation, is seen answering a call on his mobile phone, in blatant breach of safety regulations that prohibit the use of such devices. Should there be a gas leak, the spark generated by standard mobile phones could trigger a fire or even an explosion.

Once full, the gas cylinders were transported rather flimsily on a fork lifter, which according to safety regulations should be equipped with spark-suppressing features.

Due to the fact that the plant had no permanent storage facility it was being supplied by a 20-ton road tanker, which was directly feeding the filling pipes.

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