From Eurallumina to Sanac: disputes waiting for answers in Sardinia

And under the tree the industrial disputes. Ranging from the aluminium industry to the sector that includes lead, zinc and lithium, and even refractory bricks. These are the productions of the companies operating in Sardinia that have opened the crisis table at Mimit. Of the 38 companies on the list of 'Active Crisis Tables', where disputes are still being dealt with to find solutions to problems, there are four companies operating in Sardinia.

On the list is Eurallumina, the first link in the aluminium supply chain. The company, under the control of the Russian Rusal, was until 2009 engaged in the processing of bauxite into alumina (first link in the aluminium chain). Production was frozen due to high energy and fuel oil costs. Over the years, projects for revitalisation have been initiated. The latest one envisages investments of almost 400 million euros and the employment of about 1,500 new workers. After the approval of the Dpcm energy that clears the way for the arrival of gas, indispensable for the production of the steam needed to run the plant, the company now has to deal with the blockage of funds due to EU sanctions against Russia. For this very reason, a few weeks ago, five workers barricaded themselves 45 metres high in one of the plant's silos.

Also under the tree is the dispute concerning the Sider Alloys, a company that took over the Portovesme plant from Alcoa and would like to relaunch the production of primary aluminium. The company has to deal with an issue related to the AIA (integrated environmental authorisation) and the release of a guaranteed loan of around 300 million euros.

The dispute is also open for the Portovesme srl plant, a company controlled by Glencore and operating in Sardinia at two sites: Portovesme and San Gavino. At the centre of the crisis is the issue of high electricity costs. A fact that pushed the company to shut down the lead line and then the zinc line. On the horizon is an investment plan of almost half a billion, for the processing of end-of-cycle batteries and the extraction of lithium from waste. The plan is going slowly. It is no coincidence that the trade unions urge the settlement of the dispute with 'the assumption, by everyone, of their responsibilities'.

It is a different thread that concerns the future of the Sanac plant in Macchiareddu in the Cagliari area, a company that produced refractory bricks for foundry furnaces. Then there is the case of Bekaert: the parent company in November, after careful verifications, announced its decision to sell the Sardinian site.