The advantages of the conversion project

Under the project  particularly  consistent  private investments totalling nearly 2.5 billion Euros will be allocated.

The conversion project, which will be completed after almost 6 years, will daily employ an average of 1500 - with peaks of 3000 -workers during the construction stage, , and local businesses will be greatly involved.

Local businesses currently form 11 consortiums involving almost 90 companies, submitted to pre-qualification for compliance with different activities, with  nearly 160 orders issued.

When it will be completed the power station will require nearly 700 workers, of whom 350 will run the facility.Thus the current employment rate will greatly increase ( 150 workers are employed today) and the local business community will be involved.

The construction of the plant observes the Protocol of Agreement signed in March 2010 by Enel and the Region of Veneto and ratified by the Province of Rovigo and the Municipality of Porto Tolle. The agreement  includes a number of major economic measures and structural actions benefiting the area around the plant, both during the construction stage and when it will be online, worth about 100 million Euros.

The Protocol also includes the establishment of an Environmental Observatory, which will include  the minister for the Environment, the Region, the Municipality and other local institutions. The latter shall constantly monitor the conditions of the environment and the emissions released by the power station, as a further guarantee for the area surrounding the power station. The funds required to establish (1 million Euros) and run the Observatory (1 million euro/year) will be provided by Enel.

Moreover, Enel will develop:

• experimental carbon capture and storage projects
• initiatives to mitigate the impact of the power station on the natural park of the Po Delta,  including the redevelopment of the Albanella Oasis and the vivification of Sacca del Canarin
• projects aimed at using waste heat from the power station for flower and plant cultivation and fish farming.

In short, the oil-to-coal conversion of the Porto Tolle power plant will:

• allow the power plant to regain competiveness
• reduce emissions and guarantee the healthiness and protection of the surrounding area
• substantially increase the employment rate
• boost local and national businesses, creating synergies with the local companies, withpositive direct and indirect effects on the employment ratehelp reduce energy costs in Italy and assure the availability of energy supply.