Petrochemical plants in Syracuse, Sicily under sequestration order

Genoa - Two of the most important companies based at the Syracuse petrochemical hub have had three of their plants under preventive seizure by prosecutors since yesterday. The firms involved, Esso and Isab, have been given a year to drastically decrease and filter the air emissions produced. “We’ve detected a significant contribution to the deterioration of air quality due to the emissions of the plants,” wrote the prosecutor, who carried out a two-year investigation, and has now obtained a preventive seizure order from the investigating judge. The Syracuse petrochemical hub, which extends for 2,700 hectares and includes a large area from Augusta to the capital, passing through Priolo and Melilli, is considered to be the largest in Europe with numerous oil and chemical refineries and energy production companies. Until the 1970s it employed twenty thousand people, with only 10% of that currently, it stil remains one of the most important employers throughout Sicily. The environmental damage repeatedly recorded in the past, and the rise in tumours, and abnormally-high rate of babies born with malformations, had for years been attributed to the inevitable side effects of the type of work.

But things have changed in the last few years; there were the initiatives by a priest, Father Palmiro Prisutto, who every month reads out from the pulpit of his Augusta church the names of all the dead from cancer over the years, and also increasing public pressure: “With the resources of three prosecutors which have been assigned to the investigation, we’ve looked into the affair since I was appointed here,” says Siracusa’s public attorney Francesco Paolo Giordano, “how could we ignore the many reports from citizens, the bad odours, the cases of those seeking help at the hospital emergency room, the high incidence of cancers in the area?” The sequestration measures, which don’t stop the activities at the Esso, Isab Nord and Isab Sud facilities, requires that companies carry out a series of measures to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, and bad odours, as well as providing local environmental agencies with electronic data:

“A survey conducted by a group of specialists, Giordano explains, on samples taken from the two plants, as well as the surrounding area, found high concentrations of harmful substances, both regulated and unregulated ones, with significant peaks in the readings.” The companies involved say they are ready to take action: “Esso Italia, convinced that it has acted in compliance with current legislation and with the proper permits, is ready to work with the competent authorities to clarify its position,” said the company in a statement. “We have always acted in accordance with the permissions that have been issued to us,” said Claudio Geraci, representative from Isab’s human resources and public relations. Among the complainants is the mayor of Siracusa, Giancarlo Garozzo: “I am pleased that the judiciary is focusing its attention on what is happening in the industrial area, and on the repeated cases of olfactory nuisances over these past years,” he said. Environmentalists are ecstatic: “We have repeatedly denounced the worrying situation of the aging and polluting industrial hub,” said Stefano Ciasfani, general manager of Legambiente, “demanding concrete action to curb emissions and more stringent requirements for the dirtier plants.” Unions are worried about employment: “It’s an unprecedented measure,” said Angelo Colombini, of Cisl union. We hope it won’t affect access to the facilities.”