Commodities trader Glencore…has denied allegations of dubious tax practices… [T]he company's spokesman, Simon Buerk…[said] that the allegations were based on "an incomplete, draft desktop study that was circulated in Zambia several months ago". He added that Glencore had publicly refuted the draft "conclusions" of the document at the time…Dealing with allegations…that Glencore-owned operations had caused "sulphur clouds" to "hang low over Mufulira", Buerk said: "The Mufulira smelter was first built in 1937. Prior to privatisation, 100% of all the sulphur dioxide went into the atmosphere. "Since privatisation, we have invested in the improvement of the smelter's emissions standards as per a plan agreed by the Environmental Council of Zambia."