From logistics to the blue economy: the plan to restart Civitavecchia
The Torrevaldaliga Nord thermoelectric power plant, operated by Enel, is in phase out. It is at a standstill, waiting to know its future and that of its workers. For Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, 'if there are plans for reconversion, we can start again immediately'
by Lorenzo Pace
Key points
On the Italian map of the sites most in difficulty in the ecological transition process is also Civitavecchia. Less than 70 kilometres from Rome, the thermoelectric plant Torrevaldaliga Nord, operated by Enel, is in phase out. It is at a standstill, waiting to know its future and that of its workers. In particular, the two hundred or so engaged in unloading coal, who are seeking explanations on the 'cold reserve' plan. This is the energy security scheme, extended until 2038 by Law No 49/2026, which keeps coal-fired power plants shut down but ready to reactivate in the event of a national emergency.
Timing will be crucial. And, for this reason, they were the focus of the conference 'Civitavecchia, a model for national energy transition. Logistics, Circular Economy, Sea Economy and New Energies', promoted by Unindustria with the contribution of the Rome Chamber of Commerce at the Port Authority conference hall.
Port areas for alternative projects
Because, on the one hand, workers and companies have asked for acceleration. In particular, for the leaders of Unindustria, Giuseppe Biazzo and Fabio Pagliari, the president in Civitavecchia, it is necessary to unblock the retroport areas (36 hectares) and to go ahead with the alternative projects presented to the Ministry of Enterprise by the investors. In this way, the site 'can be a candidate to become a pilot model, in which environmental sustainability and industrial policy advance together,' according to Biazzo. And the tools and the entrepreneurs involved, according to Pagliari, 'are there', but 'now we need an operational leap: definite timeframes, available areas, clear procedures, and governance capable of accompanying the implementation of the interventions'.
For the mayor of the municipality within the metropolitan city of Rome, Marco Piendibene, 'clear answers are needed' for those very lands: this will make it easier to reason about reconversion.
Pichetto Fratin: let's start now if there are plans for reconversion
On the other hand, Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin explained that, in the meantime, until there are certainties, 'it is better to maintain' the 'cold reserve' status. But, he added, 'if there are reconversion projects, we can start immediately'.
