Opposition demands publication of inquiry report on disposal of Mercaptan

The Labour Party said today that the Finance Minister should not procrastinate further on the publication of an inquiry report on the dumping and destruction of the chemical Mercaptan. Environment spokesman Leo Brincat recalled that the minister had appointed a board of inquiry about the case and had promised to publish its report. In February he said the report would be published in a few days. He then tried to justify the delay by saying that he was awaiting a reaction by Enemalta and recommendations on disciplinary action. Mr Brincat said that if the minister really believed in accountability and transparency, he should publish the report forthwith and declare what disciplinary actions had been taken. In 2009, Enemalta is alleged to have instructed some of its employees to dispose of 10 barrels containing 450 gallons of the chemical Mercaptan by burning it in a field on the outskirts of Rabat that belongs to the St Paul’s fireworks factory. Mercaptan is a smelly gas that is added to LPG household gas to give it its odour. At the time of the alleged burning there were numerous reports of a bad smell in various parts of Malta, the cause of which was never identified.