Milan, 14 November 2016 – Regarding the project for the end-of-life tyre recovery plant in Retorbido (Pavia), for which the Lombardy Region has yet to issue an official assessment on feasibility, Assolombarda Confindustria Milano Monza e Brianza, Confindustria Pavia, and Confindustria Lombardia hope for a positive resolution of the authorisation process within the timeframes established by current legislation.

There is significant concern regarding an amendment to the new regional law on the reorganisation of protected regional areas, to be presented tomorrow to the Regional Council, which appears aimed at making the Retorbido pyrolysis plant unfeasible. This amendment is unacceptable as, if approved, it would undermine fundamental principles of our legal system, such as legal certainty and the non-retroactivity of laws. Furthermore, it comes after two years of authorisation procedures and following the unanimous positive opinion of the bodies responsible for environmental monitoring and the commission of experts appointed by the Lombardy Region itself to support the Environmental Impact Assessment Commission: an opinion that should fully reassure everyone regarding the effects of the new industrial facility on the environment and public health.

The project by the company Italiana Energetica Tire would allow for the recovery of up to approximately 98% of end-of-life tyres to generate high-value-added output (liquid fuels, carbon black, steel). The plant would be located in the municipality of Retorbido (Pavia), within an area currently occupied by an inactive industrial facility, and therefore does not involve new land take, representing a total investment of 60 million euros. Once fully operational, the project is estimated to create 37 new jobs, with a total of approximately 100 indirect jobs.

The Confindustria associations therefore join the request made by the proposing company to the regional authorities (Presidency, Executive, and Council) not to intervene through a retroactive amendment of the regulation and to allow the authorisation process to follow its regular course.

Attachments

• Retorbido - 14nov16_CSdef.pdf
• 2016_11_11 IET letter to Lombardy Region.pdf