Our environmental interventions in Avenza

In Avenza, we are committed to the environmental remediation of the site in lots, that will enable the progressive redevelopment of areas.

Our commitment for the environmental remediation and the recovery of the Avenza industrial site

The former Agricoltura plant, covering 17 hectares, is located in the Apuan industrial area of Avenza, in the municipality of Carrara, within the Massa and Carrara Site of National Priority. Production activities at the site, established in the 1940s by the SIR-Rumianca group and conferred by law to Eni (through ANIC Agricoltura) in 1982, stopped permanently in 1984. After the passage to Enichem, in 2004 began both safety measure interventions and the environmental procedure for the site's remediation. At present time, as Eni Rewind, in addition to having completed the dismantling of all the old structures, we are committed to soil remediation in subsequent lots in order to progressively make the areas available for new developments, and to groundwater remediation. Since 2023, we have also operated at the adjacent former Italiana Coke site, external to the site of national priority. As of 31 December 2024, we have incurred in environmental costs amounting to €143 million.

Avenza at a glance

Location: Italy, Tuscany

Start of the environmental interventions: 2004

Avenza past and present

Site history

Eni Rewind begins the site remediation process

Eni Rewind takes charge of the permanent safety measures interventions and begins the remediation process of the site.

Trasfer to Enichem

The site is transferred to Enichem (now Eni Rewind).

Permanent closure of the plants

Following a major incident in March 1984, the activities, already partially halted, are suspended and the plant closed permanently in June of the same year.

Conferment by law to Eni

The Avenza site is conferred by law to Eni, first under ANIC and then ANIC Agricoltura, for the production of fertilisers and herbicides.

Trasfer to the SIR group

Site management is transferred to the SIR group.

Establishment of the Avenza site

Rumianca basic chemicals and fertiliser plants are built.

Our activities in Avenza

In 2004, we began emergency groundwater safety measures with the construction of a hydraulic barrier and a groundwater treatment plant (GTP). Between 2004 and 2005, we carried out emergency soil safety measures, including covering and waterproofing contaminated areas and draining and collecting rainwater. Furthermore, in 2017, we completed the demolition of obsolete industrial facilities. With the approval of the groundwater remediation project, we strengthened the hydraulic barrier, currently consisting of 33 pumping wells and the existing GTP, increasing the treatment capacity to 200 m³/h. We implement a pilot-scale bioremediation technology that promotes the biodegradation of contaminants (chlorinated solvents) directly in the groundwater. Regarding soil remediation, the project involves excavation and disposal interventions in subsequent lots to ensure the progressive availability of the areas for new developments. The remediation activities were started in compliance with the procedures stated in the operational protocol for the execution and testing of excavations approved by the Tuscany Region and other authorities in 2020 and revised in 2022. In 2024, the company completed the soil characterisation plan and submitted the groundwater remediation project, currently undergoing preliminary investigation at the former Italiana Coke nearby site.

Remediation of lots 1 and 2

Status of the environmental process

The groundwater and soil remediation project in Avenza were approved in 2016 and 2018 respectively. The remediation of the former Italiana Coke site, where Eni Rewind was identified as responsible for the contamination with ASI in 2023, is currently undergoing preliminary investigations.