Our environmental interventions in Ferrara

We work on the remediation of surface matrices and groundwater, carrying out trial activities with our partners,innovative technologies.

A remediation for the recovery of Ferrara

At the multi-company site, which housed the first petrochemical complex in Italy, we are engaged in several environmental interventions taking place in the areas inherited from Montedison: from soil and confined aquifer remediation to safety measures of a former landfill and the demolition of decommissioned facilities. The earliest industrial activities on the site date back to 1941, with the launch of a synthetic rubber production plant by Società Anonima Italiana Gomma Sintetica. In 1950, Montecatini acquired the plant to build a petrochemical complex that included a cracking unit and a cycle of derivatives such as polyethylene, polystyrene, ethylene oxide, polypropylene, and elastomers. In the 1980s, many activities were halted and others transferred, including the polyethylene business branch, which passed to ANIC (Eni group) in 1982. Subsequently, following the failed Enimont operation (1989-1990), Montedison's assets were transferred to Enichem (later Eni Rewind). Environmental activities at the Ferrara site began in 2002, following the Programme Agreement on the Industrial and Technological Hub among the co-located companies, the ministry of Economic Development, local authorities, and trade unions, with the presentation of the Characterisation Plan. Today, the Ferrara site is also a key player in the testing and validation of increasingly innovative and sustainable remediation technologies, such as the e-limina® methodology, which monitors the reduction in groundwater contamination, or the passive sampling technique using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheets. As of 31 December 2024, we have incurred environmental costs amounting to €134 million for our areas.

Ferrara at a glance

Location: Italy, Emilia-Romagna

Start of the environmental interventions: 2002

Ferrara past and present

Site history.

Environmental interventions begin at the Ferrara site

Environmental activities began with a Programme Agreement on the Industrial and Technological Hub among co-located companies, the ministry of Economic Development, local authorities and trade unions.

Remediation begins with the transfer of Montedison assets to Enichem

Following the failed Enimont operation, the hub assets still belonging to Montedison passed to Enichem.

Our Story

Progressive divestment and transfer of activities

In 1982 the polyethylene business branch passed to Anic, in 1983 the polypropylene supply chain went to Himont (Montedison-Hercules JV) and the ammonia, urea and fertilisers production to Norsk Hydro.

Italy’s first petrochemical complex

The plant was acquired by Montecatini, which built a cracking unit and a cycle of derivatives such as polyethylene, polystyrene, ethylene oxide, polypropylene, and elastomers.

Establishment of the Ferrara site

Plant activities began with the start-up of a synthetic rubber production facility by the Società Anonima Italiana Gomma sintetica.

Our activities in Ferrara

In the site, in addition to the accomodation and extraordinary maintanance interventions at the former Torce Area, already certified, and of permanent safety measures at the former Monteco landfill, undergoing certification, we are engaged in the remediation, divided into two phases, of surface matrices and of the PZPEC23 area, in addition to the decommissioning of plants and facilities.

For the confined aquifer, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the co-located companies in 2006, the IFM consortium was given a mandate without representation to carry out the interventions, currently underway. The operative remediation project included the construction of six pumping wells along the plume axis, channeling the water to a dedicated groundwater treatment plant (GTP), and of an in-situ bioremediation barrier. This barrier, through 80 injection points with Oxygen Release Compounds (ORC – slow oxygen release), promotes the aerobic activity of autochthonous bacteria found in the soil and aquifer. Furthermore, as Eni Rewind, we ensure the hydraulic management of the impregnation water, with a pumping system located at selected points. This water is partly disposed of externally and partly treated by the IFM consortium plant, with the exception of that coming from the PZPEC23 area, which is treated in our own groundwater treatment plant.

In Ferrara, we are testing and validating increasingly innovative and sustainable technological solutions, such as the e-limina® methodology, developed by Eni research, for groundwater treatment in the PZPEC23 area; the passive sampling technique using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheets implemented in collaboration with ISPRA, ARPA, UNEM, and the Tor Vergata University of Rome; mycoremedation as part of the Life MySoil project, co-financed by the European Community; and a project aimed at developing innovative strategies for the bioremediation and revitalisation of contaminated sites (Nymphe), also funded by the EC.

Permanent safety measures on the former Monteco landfill

Field trials to promote and validate innovations in remediation

The Ferrara site is a key player in the testing and validation of innovative and sustainable technological solutions.

The e-limina® method for the bioremediation of the intermediate aquifer

The PZPEC023 area in the Ferrara site, covering approximately 4.5 hectares, is characterised by the presence of an intermediate aquifer between the surface aquifer and the confined one. Given this hydrogeological peculiarity, we submitted a project for the application of an in-situ bioremediation technology, identified using the "e-limina®" method. This methodology, developed by Eni, enables to establish the natural biodegradation of contaminants already present in environmental matrices. Following its application in the area, Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination (ERD) was proposed and implemented: through the injection of organic compounds (sodium lactate) into the 45 wells of the area, the oxidative action of in-situ bacteria was used to facilitate the biological biodegradation of contaminants. At the beginning of 2021, we completed the injection interventions and implemented a monitoring plan with quarterly campaigns. The report submitted to the authorities highlighted a significant and constant decreasing trend in contamination. In light of this evidence, we continue to monitor the effectiveness of bioremediation in relation to the remediation objectives, always using the e-limina® methodology, which combines microbiological and isotopic fingerprinting to verify, with great accuracy and in real time, the biodegradation status of contaminants.

Innovative techniques for soil gas monitoring

Ferrara is one of the sites selected for testing the passive sampling technology using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheets, which we are conducting in collaboration with Eni, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Union Energy for Mobility (UNEM), the Italian Institute for

Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the National Network for Environmental Protection (SNPA). The portion of the area selected for the trial is characterised by the presence of BTEX and chlorinated solvents in the subsoil. Six multilevel samplers, developed by Eni research, were installed to assess the volatilisation of contaminants from soil to surface (interstitial gases) using low-density polyethylene films positioned in the devices' cylindrical holes at different depths: 20, 50, and 80 cm from ground level. Due to the adsorption properties of the LDPE material, pollutants accumulate on the sampler film. This allows to determine the concentration and distribution more accurately, including on the vertical profile, of volatile organic contaminants in soil gas. The trials conducted demonstrated how passive samplers can contribute in the estimation of the actual mobility of contaminants, in addition to traditional characterisation techniques, so as to define the conceptual model of the site more accurately and identify better targeted environmental interventions. The results of the trials conducted in Ferrara were published on the ISPRA booklet 30/2024 Application of different passive sampling systems for monitoring interstitial gases in contaminated sites.

Fungi and bacteria for soil remediation

In Ferrara, as part of the European MySOIL Project in which we participate together with seven other partners, we conducted a pilot test in a mesocosm — a small, authorised trial facility — to demonstrate the applicability of mycoremediation in hydrocarbon treatment. This bioremediation technique uses the biodegradation capacity of fungi to remove TPH from contaminated soils. In addition, it could provide improved performance compared to other solutions, such as landfill disposal and thermal desorption, ensuring significantly lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while promoting the recovery of treated soil. The pilot test conducted in Ferrara began in May 2022 and ended in May 2023.

The European HORIZON NYMPHE project for sustainable remediation

In 2024, a request for authorisation was submitted and issued in July of the same year by the Municipality of Ferrara, for the implementation of a new European research project called “Nymphe” (New sYsteM-driven bioremediation of Polluted Habitats and Environment).  The project aims to develop innovative strategies for the bioremediation and revitalisation of contaminated sites by leveraging the combined application of microorganisms able of degrading mixtures of different pollutants. Activities began in early 2025.

Status of the environmental process

The administrative procedures for the environmental interventions in the areas owned by Eni Rewind concluded with the issuing of resolutions for all the remediation projects submitted, which are in part completed and certified.