ERA traces fuel smell in southern Malta to high-sulphur marine fuel
The authority said mitigation measures were in place and no environmental legislation was breached
Updated 5.30pm
A batch of marine fuel with a "higher than usual" sulphur content was the cause of the strong smell of fuel reported by residents in southern Malta last month, the Environment and Resources Authority said.
Residents in Paola, Vittoriosa and Żabbar had complained of a strong fuel smell in May, which some compared to burnt petrol, diesel or heavy fuel oil. Some described the smell as "unbearable", and some had said it had woken them during the night.
Responding to questions on Tuesday, over a month after the smell was first reported, the authority said its investigations found the smell had been caused by a batch of marine fuel, stored in the area.
"ERA liaised with the operators responsible for fuel storage in the area and ensured that appropriate mitigation measures were implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future."
The authority did not say which operator had stored the fuel and what kind of mitigation measures had been taken.
Asked whether the sulphur content had breached any legal limits, ERA said no fines were issued as "no enviromental legislation was breached".
Michael Piccinino, a PN MP who lives in Paola, had previously asked ERA to investigate the source and to take action.
Ertin Sammut, who lives in Vittoriosa, said he woke up at 2 am because of what he described as a "toxic smell".
"It's not just a bad smell; it burns your eyes and hurts when you breathe it," he said.
Like Piccinino, Sammut said he had noticed the smell for about a week and a half, mostly during the night. He did not know whether it stemmed from cruise liners, the shipyard, or elsewhere.
Several residents had reported the smell to ERA.