Industrial production
The company Società Ing. Luigi Conti Vecchi
A story of requalification, combining industry and the environment
The story of the Conti Vecchi Saltworks
The Conti Vecchi saltworks are located in one of Europe's most important wetlands
and were commissioned back in 1931 for the production of salt, magnesium sulphate
and magnesium chloride, when Luigi Conti Vecchi was granted a concession in 1921 by
Royal Decree.
Today the company Società Ing. Luigi Conti Vecchi (100%
owned by Eni Rewind) manages both the salt planes, which cover approximately 2,700
hectares, located in the municipalities of Assemini, Capoterra and Cagliari, as well
as the plant where sodium carbonate, hydrochloric acid and hypochlorite is produced.
A requalification project, combining industry and the environment
In December 2014 Eni's environmental company handed over the chlorine-sodium and
derivatives branch of the company to Ing. Luigi Conti Vecchi which until them managed
the salt works alone and became part of Eni in 1984. In April 2013 the site requalification
plan had already begun, with a total investment of approximately 60 million euros,
also in accordance with provisions set forth in the trade union agreement signed on
14th February 2013 which led to the plant ceasing dichloroethane production.
In order to enhance the site's productive vocation, the following was carried out:
-
reduction of the old chlorine-sodium plant and modernisation of the plant which also uses salt from the salt planes in an electrolysis process in latest generation bipolar membrane cells to produce 30% soda, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite;
-
allocation of part of salt for food grade use by means of a new refining and bagging plant;
-
automation of production plant management;
-
improved safety.
Plant requalification has also enabled the consolidation and development of the reference position in Italy for the production and sale of electrolytic products, thanks to the availability of logistics hub in Priolo, Vasto (soon to open) and Livorno, as well as in Assemini.
The factory of white gold
The Conti Vecchi saltworks produce both food grade and industrial salt. With a salt production capacity of approximately 400 thousand tons per year, of which 150 thousand is destined for refining to become food grade, 200 thousand for the defrosting market and the remaining 50 thousand tons for use inside the chlorine-sodium industrial plant.
Sardinian salt conquers the world
Salt has always been fundamental for industry, trade and the economy. Currently, salt from the Conti Vecchi saltworks is exported to many countries, including the United States, England, Denmark, Romania and Sweden. On 23rd January 2017 a load of salt produced by the Ing. Luigi Conti Vecchi saltworks was dispatched from Porto Canale, Cagliari to the first ever transcontinental destination: The list is set to get longer. White gold continues its journey along an increasing number of routes, from Sardinia to the rest of the world.
Partnership with FAI - Italy's National Trust
In 2015 Eni's environmental company signed a promotion agreement with FAI - the Italian National Trust, enabling the Conti Vecchi salt planes to be opened to the public in May 2017, for ten months a year, after historic, cultural and environmental recovery operations. A unique cultural promotion experience, combining industrial activity with the historic and naturalistic value of an operative site. This best practice has potential for application in national and international contexts.
CONTINUE READING