The December 6 instalment of the regular Mepa feature One World... dealt with the citizens' right to have access to environmental information.

Here is a little story that started in May of this year. The story has not been concluded, possibly because of lack of persistence on my part. Here is to rekindled persistence.

I wished to quantify the different types of fuels consumed in Malta (and, hence, their environmental impact) as well as to link them to sector subgroups. I sent an e-mail to Enemalta customer care on May 3 this year requesting fuel import figures for the period 2001 to 2006 for the following fuel types: aviation jet fuel, avgas, unleaded petrol, LRP, total gas oil/diesel, gas oil/diesel re-export, automotive diesel to road-side pumps, diesel (marine craft/bunkering), kerosene, LPG, light heating oil (LHO) and thin fuel oil (all types).

Before I even expected an answer I managed to find some of the information myself on the internet, which I tabulated onto an Excel sheet. I submitted my findings and requested that the figures be checked and confirmed correct. I also requested the figures for the information I could not find.

No reply by June 3. I therefore submitted a reminder to the gentleman at Enemalta telling him of his obligations under the Aarhus Convention and directive 2003/4/EC, copies of which I attached to the e-mail sent.

The gentleman excused himself for the delay explaining that the information requested was obtainable from different sources and the process was time consuming!

To date, still no reply and the time limits set by the directive have been surpassed three times over.

I am trying my luck with Mepa by submitting a formal request for the same information as well as requesting a month by month breakdown of sales of kerosene and light heating oil from 2001 to date.

I am also sending a copy of this letter to Enemalta hoping the information requested in May has been unearthed.