Our environmental interventions in the Colline Metallifere
We are engaged in remediation interventions, safety measures and environmental recovery, as well as in initiatives for the territory.
Colline Metallifere, our commitment for the environmental management of the site
The Colline Metallifere are located across central-western Tuscany and cover four provinces: Livorno, Pisa, Siena, and Grosseto. This area, known since Etruscan times for its rich mineral deposits, for centuries has been a hub for the extraction and processing of hematite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, alum, stibnite, calamine, blende, galena, and cassiterite. In 1899, Montecatini company (later Montedison) took over the Fenice Capanne and Boccheggiano copper mines, and later launched the Gavorrano and Niccioleta pyrite mines. In 1973, operations were transferred to the Società Lavorazione Minerali e Derivati – Solmine of the EGAM (Ente Gestione Attività Minerarie) group, and in 1978, with their gradual decommissioning, the mining sites were conferred by law to Eni, at that time a state-owned company. At the present time, as Eni Rewind, we hold four active mining concessions covering approximately 1,459 hectares and own 680 hectares of land, 360 of which undergoing environmental interventions. Ongoing activities, in line with the intervention plan envisaged in the Programme Agreements signed with local authorities and the territories include mining safety measures as well as soil and groundwater remediation, according to a sustainable management and territorial regeneration model. As of 31 December 2024, we have incurred environmental costs for our areas amounting to €148 million.
Le Colline Metallifere at a glance
Location: Italy, Tuscany
Start of the environmental interventions: 2003Colline Metallifere past and present
Site history.
Agreements for the remediation of the former mining sites
Signed two programme agreements with authorities and institutions to launch the recovery of the Colline Metallifere.
Incorporation into Eni Rewind
The environmental management of the disused mining areas is transferred to Eni Rewind, which inherited know-how and responsibilities for the remediation and regeneration of the sites.
End of activities in Campiano
In 1994, production activities in the Campiano mine ended.
Last mining activity in Niccioleta
With the closure of the Niccioleta mine, a long cycle of mining activities in the area came to an end.
Closure of the Gavorrano activities
The Gavorrano mine, one of the most important in Tuscany, halted extractions.
Closure of the Fenice Capanne activities
In 1980, production ended at the Fenice Capanne copper mine, one of the first sites to be included in the environmental interventions.
Conferment of EGAM into the Eni group
In 1978, with the 279/78 law, the mining activities of the EGAM group in liquidation were conferred to Eni, at the time a state-owned company.
Montedison and Solmine take over
In 1967 with the Montecatini - Edison merger, the business was taken over by Montedison and as of 1973 by Società Lavorazione minerali e Derivati – Solmine of the EGAM group.
Pyrite monopoly
With the launch, in 1930, of the Niccioleta site, Montecatini secured a monopoly on pyrite in Italy.
Montecatini acquires copper mines
Montecatini company acquired the Fenice Capanne and Boccheggiano copper mines and, later, the Gavorrano pyrite mine
Our activities in the Colline Metallifere
In 2009, we signed two programme agreements with the authorities to begin safety measures and remediation of the former mining sites: the procedural and programme Agreement for mining safety measures and the environmental remediation of the mining sites and the contaminated areas in the Colline Metallifere, Scarlino plains and the Municipality of Manciano, and the Final Agreement for safety measures and remediation interventions in the Merse Area. The two agreements defined a comprehensive and progressive plan of interventions aimed at the environmental requalification and sustainable recovery of the areas. The tasks planned include 26 environmental and mining safety measures interventions, 18 of which are managed directly by Eni Rewind and 8 by mandate, in addition to the characterisation and studies for the regeneration of the drainage tunnel waters from the Niccioleta, Boccheggiano, and Fenice Capanne and of the water from the Gavorrano-Rigoloccio mine. The agreements also include the reduction or divestment of the four mining concessions of Niccioleta, Fenice-Capanne, Accesa Serrabottini, and Gavorrano-Rigoloccio, along with the progressive transfer of the owned areas.
Main interventions in the completed, ongoing and undergoing preliminary investigation stages
The remediation plan includes 26 interventions: 20 already completed, and 6 with certification of completed remediation. Below the procedures for the interventions currently underway, and the projects undergoing preliminary investigation.
Project approved
In 2021 and 2023, project variants for the permanent safety measures interventions at the S. Giovanni Basins (Gavorrano) were approved. The archaeological-mining valorisation and the possible installation of a photovoltaic park are under consideration.
Project approved
In 2024, the implementation of remediation and permanent safety measures (MISP) activities on the minor Montieri sites was authorised.
Undergoing preliminary investigation
The process for the approval of the permanent safety project (MISP) presented in 2022 is underway.
In the design stage
The new planning of the interventions in the Merse area is underway after several project proposals since 2011 and an extensive dialogue with the authorities aimed at protecting the environmental and archaeological assets.
