Government orders inquiry into ‘alleged’ chemical incineration

Yesterday evening, the Finance Ministry announced that Fenech had instructed the Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary to set up an independent board of inquiry to investigate the “allegations” done vis-à-vis Enemalta’s disposal of 10 barrels of methyl mercaptan in the limits of Mgarr.

“The Minister demanded the investigation is carried out as soon as possible to establish the facts in view of the allegations which emerged in the last days,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Enemalta Corporation has been carrying out an internal investigation on a case of theft from the corporation, which inadvertently discovered the cause of an incident two years ago that resulted in a foul smell of gas reported across Malta.

The Enemalta board of inquiry was told that on 4 September 2009, 10 barrels each containing 45 gallons of methyl mercaptan were allegedly burnt in the limits of Mġarr. The activity was carried out by a number of Enemalta employees assisted by a fire engine belonging to Enemalta’s fire section.

The incidents had provoked reports from various localities including San Gwann, Valletta, Birkirkara, Rabat, Iklin and Imsida about the persisting gas foul smell. But 24 months down the line, Enemalta has never made any formal declarations on the cause of the smell.

Enemalta had then said that its technical staff had investigated all the corporation’s installations, visited towns using gas detectors, and also visited “a site where Mercaptan was deposited in the morning” but only said it had established there was no danger.