The pilot project for the production of lithium for batteries proposed by Glencore which took over the Portovesme plant will be subjected to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) .
This was communicated by the Councilor for the Environment Marco Porcu : the Region's decision inevitably lengthens the time and has not gone down well with the Swiss multinational, which at this point is also thinking of leaving Sardinia and «evaluate – we read in the press release of company – alternative strategies for a European battery materials processing hub".
The Council's decision is defined as "disheartening" by Glencore, which underlines that " a further extension of the authorization process would lead to a delay in the timeframe which could compromise the economic sustainability of the project ".
«The site conversion project – we read in the note – has been defined in compliance with all the health, safety and environmental standards required by law. We are willing to provide further details and insights."
Italy thus risks losing "a plant that could become a significant source of critical materials for national production, including lithium carbonate, fundamental for the development of a European battery market".
Then the gloss, a cold shower : « Glencore reserves the right to evaluate alternative strategies for a European center for the processing of battery materials, since the further extension of the authorization process would lead to a delay in the times which could compromise the economic sustainability of the project ".
The unions also protest: «This is a procedure which, given the times that have characterized other projects in the past, is quite worrying. A time delay can only slow down or eliminate the construction process of the pilot plant which is part of the energy transition path and which is also linked to new job opportunities", explain the territorial secretaries of Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec-Uil, Emanuele Madeddu, Vincenzo Lai and Pierluigi Loi .
"We are practically at a paradox, because on the one hand we are pushing and working to start the decarbonisation process, on the other hand all the plans that are part of the energy transition are slowing down", conclude the unions, who finally ask the Government to immediately convene a national table on the Portovesme dispute .
(Unioneonline/L)