Porto Torres: 600 hectares between boating, hydrogen and circular economy

The industrial area of Porto Torres, covering 600 hectares, is undergoing a phase of strategic transformation, shifting from a petrochemical hub to a sustainable center focused on circular economy, shipbuilding, recreational boating, and a project dedicated to green hydrogen. The waterfront and hinterland port areas, close to the industrial port, are of great interest thanks to their geographical position and maritime vocation.

The management of the area is entrusted to the Provincial Industrial Consortium of Sassari (CIPSS), which has received over €40 million from the Region for remediation activities, with an additional €40 million planned to complete environmental recovery and relaunch local productivity. President Simona Fois and Director Salvatore Demontis presented the Consortium’s projects to the Production Activities Committee, chaired by Sabrina Pusceddu, following the ruling of the Council of State, which confirmed the legitimacy of the reversion of the decommissioned areas previously owned by Eni.

Thanks to these operations, CIPSS has regained control of 273 hectares and plans to utilize a further 300 hectares, for a total of 600, to be allocated to new modern production settlements. At the same time, proceedings are underway concerning approximately 200 hectares of the hinterland port strip, where abandoned buildings and areas requiring complex interventions are located. These strategically positioned lands represent a crossroads for large yachts and significant vessels, making the area unique at a national level.

Decommissioning activities are part of the redevelopment and regeneration project for the complex crisis area of Sassari–Porto Torres. Projects funded through FSC 2021–2027 resources include: €20 million for ten hectares of hinterland port areas outside the Eni perimeter, €3.8 million for the remediation of the former Cementir site, €4 million for maintenance of consortium roads, €2.2 million for upgrading the wastewater treatment plant, €3.3 million to complete gas and fiber optic networks, €8 million for the remediation of the former Vinyls site, and €800,000 from the Region for the remediation of the former steelworks, preparatory to demolition.

Interest from operators is high: more than 30 companies have carried out site inspections for the demolition works of the former Cementir plant. The Consortium is promoting a new phase of funding to make over 200 hectares of waterfront areas operational, through agreements with TIPS, the Metropolitan City and the Region, with the aim of securing an additional €40 million dedicated to redevelopment and opening to the international market.

A key project concerns the creation of a hub for the production of green hydrogen, with the goal of relaunching the Hydrogen Valley initiative, previously interrupted, and attracting new investments. Also significant is the progress of the project for the management of posidonia in San Marco–Alghero, a strategic element for the development of the circular economy in the region.