In order to address the 'unbearable smell' reported by residents in Birzebbuga, the old sewage treatment plant in the locality has been cleaned and there are plans to clean other parts as well, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said.

Two months ago, the Birzebbuga local council filed complaints to Environment Resources Authority (ERA) about the unbearable stench of fish that was coming from the new tuna recycling plant in Hal Far.

Through a parliamentary question, Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina asked Dalli whether the smell coming from the tuna recycling plant was going to stop "once and for all".

Dalli said that the authorities are taking these complaints seriously and they have kept in touch with the local council to keep them informed of all the steps being taken.

She said that since the first complaint was received by ERA regarding the stench in the areas of Bizebbuga, ERA has conducted a number of inspections, even in the tuna recycling plant.

Over the past two months, ERA has carried out 48 inspections in residential areas, the industrial area of Hal Far and the plant to identify the source of the smell, Dalli said.

She added that ERA has also been keeping in touch with the local council about all the work that they are doing, and it is also meeting with the residents who made the complaints to acquire more information.

"ERA also assured that the plant is operating according to the relevant permits," she said.

In addition to ERA's regular inspections and investigations, the Water Services Corporation (WSC) has also taken a number of actions in light of odour complaints, Dalli said.

To solve the issue she revealed that the old sewage treatment plant was cleaned and around 3km of sewage drains are currently being cleaned.

There are also plans to clean the pumping station in Birzebbuga.