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FAQ
Why is the plant being extended?
We are upgrading the plant's regasification capacity from its current 3.5 billion cubic metres per year to 8 billion. We are doing this without occupying new land: the operations are all contained within the plant perimeter. The modernisation and upgrading of Panigaglia, over and above ensuring that the plant achieves higher standards of safety and operational efficiency, also contributes to increasing the methanisation and flexibility of natural gas procurement in Italy, helping to meet the country's increased demand for gas. The project will improve the diversification and safety of energy procurement in Italy.
What operations will be performed?
The plant will be completed renovated using advanced technology that guarantees optimum performance in terms of environmental protection and safety. The current tanks will be replaced with 2 new-generation tanks, with two thirds of their volume underground, leaving unchanged the outside space occupied. The tanks are based on the modern, full containment design, that is, in addition to their reinforced concrete, double containment design, on which the current tanks are also based, they will have an outside roof, also made of prestressed reinforced concrete, which withstands extremely low temperatures and is extremely shockproof. The outer wall of the double containment tank will contain any product spills in the case of a breach in the inner tank wall and protects it against the effects of any external events.
Will the upgrade of the plant require new land to be occupied?
The project to modernise and upgrade the Panigaglia plant will not occupy new land. The perimeter and dimensions of the area will remain the same. There will be no industrialisation of new areas and there will be no variations in the landscape, because the two new tanks will be partially buried. All the existing infrastructure and utilities (e.g. the access roads) will be used. All work will be contained within the existing perimeter.
Are plants like this dangerous?
LNG is NOT harmful, toxic, irritant, or carcinogenic, and therefore poses no risk of toxicity to personnel, the general public, or fauna and flora. LNG is not stored under pressure. It is contained in tanks maintained at atmospheric pressure.
The rare major incidents in the LNG industry have occurred in liquefaction plants, located in producing countries. The type and complexity of this process is not comparable to regasification plants. The regasification process is subject to the stringent safety assessment and approval of the CTR (Regional Technical Committee), as required by Italian law (Legislative Decree no. 334/1999 and subsequent modifications and supplements).
Any accidents that may originate in the LNG plant (identified and analysed in the Preliminary Feasibility Authorisation) will not have a significant impact outside the boundaries of the plant, and are in line with the current Safety Report.
The modernisation project will not change the principal process conditions, nor will it change how the LNG is treated, from the current situation. For the new tanks that will replace the existing tanks, national and international standards (UNI EN 1473) exclude the possibility of a product leak beforehand.
The plant will not require any transport of dangerous goods by road or rail. The natural gas produced is sent into the National Gas Pipeline Network.
Adopting more modern technologies renders the plant safe and compatible with the surrounding region, even considering the increase in its capacity. The operator of the LNG plant, GNL Italia, has successfully maintained a DNV environmental certification under ISO 14001.
Will the modernisation of Panigaglia involve a greater environmental impact?
All the work will be contained within the perimeter of the current plant, and the current skyline will not be changed. The industrialisation of new areas of land is avoided by the use of existing infrastructure and utilities. The project includes improvements to the blending of the plant into the surrounding countryside, through a landscape renewal project conducted by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Genoa. GNL Italia will also play its part by deepening the sea floor in the manoeuvring area for methane tanker ships, and clearing the sea floor of the Bay of Panigaglia. During the construction phases, to avoid increasing road traffic, the materials will be transported to the site by sea. The future structure of the plant will not involve significant increases in the number of arrivals/ships. The increase in the plant's capacity will be served by larger ships (from 230 metres currently to 270 metres in the future). The modernisation project is consistent with the national plans for sustainable development and containment of emissions. (The Kyoto Protocol's objective for Italy is -6.5% by 2010 of the greenhouse gases produced in 1990).
Will the wharf be modified?
The wharf will not be modified and its length will remain unchanged. A new mooring post will be added, around 48 metres from the end of the current wharf, towards the buoy marking the restricted area where sailing is prohibited. This new post will allow longer ships to dock.
In addition works will be carried out to consolidate the wharf. This is necessary to support the greater loads deriving from methane tanker ships with capacities of up to 140,000 cubic metres of LNG.
Will the modernisation bring more ship traffic?
The modernisation will not mean an increase in ship traffic. In fact, in the initial phase both big and small ships (140,000 ÷ 60,000 cubic metres of LNG) should call, meaning the total traffic of methane tankers should remain unchanged. Once the plant is fully in operation, however, with only big ships of 140,000 cubic metres in capacity calling (small ships will be phased out because they are not commercially competitive), the number of moorings per year should actually decrease.
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