Our environmental activities at Ferrara

At the multi-company site, which housed the first petrochemical complex in Italy, we are engaged in several environmental activities 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 2025, we have incurred environmental costs amounting to €140 million for our areas.

For years, the Ferrara site has been a key player in the testing and validation of innovative and sustainable technological solutions through research projects launched with the support of Eni R&D or funded by the EC.

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 activities and implemented a monitoring plan with quarterly campaigns. The report submitted to the authorities highlighted a significant and constant decreasing trend in contamination. The last two monitoring campaigns required have been completed as well and we will share the findings with the relevant authorities.

The NYMPHE Project for sustainable remediation

Since 2024, at the Ferrara site, we are conducting a trial phase for the 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 will be completed by December 2026.