CHANGE LANGUAGE

Falconara Marittima (AN), “Black Gold” investigation

The “API” Spa refinery ends up in trouble

Falconara Marittima (AN), “Black Gold” investigation.

The suspects are accused the crime of environmental disaster, the illicit management of large quantities of special waste, the dangerous throwing of things, personal injuries suffered by numerous citizens. Crimes against the Public Administration, the violation of the legislation on the management of plants at risk of major accidents and the administrative liability of entities towards the API RAFFINERIA SpA company

The investigations, conducted by the NOE of Ancona and coordinated by the Doric Prosecutor's Office, they started after the floating roof of a tank located inside the oil hub tilted owned by “API RAFFINERIA DI ANCONA” SpA One of the largest reservoirs in Europe, with a capacity of 160.000 cubic metres of crude oil, which caused the release of a cloud of hydrocarbon gas and the consequent perception of strong and prolonged miasmas by the population in the area, in addition to the serious safety hazard resulting from the risk of explosions.

Repeated violations, both of the provisions contained in the authorization provisions and of the same dictates established by the specific sector regulations. Gserious structural deficiencies in the systems, with uncontrolled and prolonged diffusion in the ecosystem of pollutants dangerous for the environment and for humans.

In fact, significant environmental pollution caused by the refinery's activities has been recorded in the Falconara Marittima (AN) area.

The pollution and the ongoing dispersion of products in the soil, subsoil and water were mainly caused by the state of deterioration of the plants and the serious shortcomings found in the inspection and maintenance of various tanks of significant dimensions, as well as of the waste treatment plants. waste water (TAS), groundwater treatment (TAF) and the oily sewerage network of the API Refinery, it was also found that the company failed to communicate the incidental events (including the one that occurred on 11 April 2018).

The compromise of quality of the air in neighboring areas at the Falconarese petrochemical plant was instead caused by repeated emissions of gases into the atmosphere resulting from the processing of hydrocarbons.

The complaint of the investigative bodies is that such conduct is supported by desire to save the huge costs for inspection, maintenance and adaptation of the systems in questionand (just the reclamation of one of the tanks subject to the investigations would have in fact entailed an outlay of over 2 million euros, while the disposal of the liquid waste made up of process water would have entailed costs of at least 8 million euros per year) and at the same time not to compromise production activity by slowing down manufacturing processes which, in the event of carrying out the necessary inspection and maintenance works, would have undergone an inevitable reduction.

Following the investigations, crimes against the Public Administration were also reported: abuse of office, revelation of official secrets and incitement to corruption, by a public official at the top of the technical body responsible for control.

raffineria

Follow La Milano on our Whatsapp channel

Reproduction reserved © Copyright La Milano

×