Our environmental interventions in Porto Torres

From the multifunctional platform for soil treatment, to water regeneration and areas made available for renewables.

Porto Torres, our commitment for a 0 Km remediation

Due to the complexity of the interventions and its size, around 1,100 hectares, Porto Torres is one of the most important sites we manage in Italy. The petrochemical complex was launched in 1962 by SIR (Italian Resin Company) for the large-scale production of phenol, to which olefins, aromatics, chlorine derivatives, intermediates, and synthetic rubbers were added in the following years. With the chemical industry crisis, in the early 1980s the activities were conferred by law (Law 784/80) to Eni, at that time a state-owned company, through Enichem (now Eni Rewind), which in the 1990s began its first environmental activities as a non-liability owner. Today, at the multi-company facility, identified as a Site of National Priority, we carry out operative soil and groundwater remediation projects, mandated by the Ministry of the Environment between 2011 and 2018, with sustainable and innovative solutions, such as the construction of a multifunctional platform for on-site soil treatment. As of 31 December 2024, for our areas we have incurred environmental costs amounting to €736 million.

Porto Torres: key elements

From a historical petrochemical hub to a example of a 0 km remediation and house of the largest photovoltaic park ever built by Eni as part of its initiatives for the development of renewable energy.
Nuraghe project: sustainable and circular 0 km remediation
Nuraghe project: sustainable and circular 0 km remediation

The platform for the treatment of materials from the former Minciaredda landfill uses a mix of technologies for the recovery the soil, which is reused or reallocated, on-site.

Renewables in Porto Torres
Renewables in Porto Torres

Eni's largest photovoltaic park in Italy (31 MW) with a production of 50 GWh/year, 70% of which is allocated for the co-located companies, allows to save approximately 26,000 tons/year of CO₂.

Collaborations
Collaborations

We have made our know-how and assets available for the remediation of the Darsena area, a public space external to the industrial site.

Porto Torres at a glance

Icona tagLocation: Italy, Sardinia
Icona tagStart of the environmental interventions: 1998

Origin of Eni Rewind areas

SIR group

Porto Torres past and present

Site history

Trasfer of production plants to Polimeri Europa (Versalis)

When Enichem changed its name to Syndial (Eni Rewind), the production plants that were still active (styrenes, elastomers and polyethylene) were transferred to Polimeri Europa (now Versalis).

Enichem begins the site remediation process

Enichem begins its first environmental interventions at the Porto Torres site, which in 2002 became a Site of National Priority by ministerial decree.

Fine chemicals transfer

Between 1994 and 1995, Enichem transferred its fine chemicals production lines to the European Vynils Corporation and Condea Augusta. In 1998, the process for remediation interventions began.

Conferment of the plant by law to Eni (through Enichem)

With the crisis of the chemical sector, the SIR group sites, including Porto Torres, were transferred to Eni, then a state-owned company, pursuant to Law No. 784/80.

Our story

Expansion of the production

In addition to the production of phenol, also olefins, aromatics, chlorine derivatives, intermediates and synthetic rubbers production was added, and in 1968 an oil refinery was built.

Establishment of the Porto Torres petrochemical hub

The hub origins date back to 1962 when it was launched by SIR - Italian Resin Company for the large-scale production of phenol through the funding from the Sardinia Rebirth Plan.

Our activities in Porto Torres

Environmental activities at the site began in the late 1990s with safety measures and groundwater monitoring. In 2010, an Environmental Action Plan was defined, which led to the submission and approval of remediation projects between 2011 and 2018. Groundwater remediation is performed through a 10-km hydraulic barrier and groundwater treatment plants (GTP), with constant monitoring of 1,200 piezometers. Part of the treated water is demineralised and reused in industrial cycles. Regarding soil, the Nuraghe project continues in the Minciaredda area, and other interventions are undergoing preliminary investigation, including the ones in the Phosphate Sands area. In the petrochemical hub, the decommissioned plants have been demolished, with the exception of sixteen tanks, while a final ministerial decree is awaiting approval for the Tripolifosfato building.

Status of the environmental process

We are committed to the redevelopment of the hub in line with the Environmental Interventions Plan shared with the authorities and with the ministerial decrees issued between 2011 and 2018.

Nuraghe project: sustainable and circular 0 km remediation

The Nuraghe Project is an example of a 0 km environmental remediation across 30 hectares of the site, within the former Minciaredda landfill. A multifunctional platform treats approximately 800,000 cubic meters of contaminated materials using various technologies, including screening systems, biological treatment, soil washing, thermal desorption, and inertisation. Suitable remediated soil is reused to fill the excavations from which it originated, while unsuitable soil is stocked in a permanent on-site deposit. This approach maximises material recovery and minimises the environmental impact of waste handling.

Renewables in Porto Torres

Porto Torres is home to the largest photovoltaic park built to date by Plenitude as part of its renewable energy development initiatives. With a capacity of 31 MW, the plant ensures annual production of 50 GWh, approximately 70% of which is allocated for the companies operating at the industrial site, saving approximately 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.


Darsena area

In 2011, at the request of the Porto Torres Municipality, we conducted characterisation investigations and submitted a remediation project for the Darsena area. In 2016 we removed two naval wreckages and launched a localised extraction system to send groundwater to the on-site groundwater treatment plants (GTP). Later on, following requests from the authorities, a new monitoring campaign on environmental matrices was conducted. The investigations confirmed the absence of contamination in the sea and air. In 2022, the area was returned to the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority.

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