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Luciano Maria Gandini

Luciano Maria Gandini - Responsabile Comunicazione e Relazioni Esterne Ansaldo Energia.
Laureato in Economia e Commercio, giornalista, rappresenta Ansaldo Energia nel consiglio della Sezio-
ne Metalmeccanica e nel Consiglio generale di Confindustria Genova, è vice presidente di UCT Unione
Costruttori Turbine della Federazione Anima (Federazione delle Associazioni Nazionali dell’Industria Mec-
canica Varia ed Affine) ed è membro del CdA di Start 4.0, il Centro di Competenza per la sicurezza e
l’ottimizzazione delle infrastrutture strategiche.

Ansaldo Energia maintains
full operation, despite the emergency

of the Morandi bridge

Tuesday August 14, 2018 will remain a dramatic day for the history of Genoa and Italy at large: the collapse
of the “Ponte Morandi” motorway bridge caused a high death toll and deeply changed the lives of thousands
of people. From being a means of communication, it became an impassable wall dividing eastern Genoa from
the western, northern and southern sections of the Val Polcevera area. The reaction from people in the local
area was strong and united.
Ansaldo Energia too had to deal with some immediate consequences: the area cordoned off, known as the
“red zone”, included a significant section of the company’s perimeter. The main entrance, the main canteen,
the central reception area and an entire building (the “Palazzina 12”)all of a sudden became inaccessible.
Despite the emergency, the Company’s stubborn determination to continue to work as normal was strong
and visible in significant episodes: the night between August 17 and 18, an exceptional load was transported
under the eastern stump of the bridge to reach to the Cornigliano facility, from where it was shipped by sea to
its final destination. Without the collaboration of the competent authorities, this operation would not have been
possible. Only three days after the tragic collapse, this operation, while ensuring compliance with the contract
timetable, had a powerful symbolism: a strongly shared need of getting back to work, a source of pride for
everyone.
It was a concerted effort: institutions, people, companies. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the majority shareholder
of the Company, immediately gave concrete support to the emergency, identifying and allocating an entire
building in the Genoa Quarto district, divided into 40 apartments sleeping 100 people, for the families affected
by the collapse of the bridge. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti also offered its support to the City of Genoa by
deferring payment, with no extra charges for the Municipal Council, of the loan repayment installations, which
were due in the second half of 2018 and in 2019. It was a relief for the City: financial resources were unlocked
for priority investments to spur local development in the short, medium and long term. Ansaldo Energia also
took steps to help employees get to work: the company significantly upgraded its shuttle bus service to the
Brin metro station and to mainline railway stations and opened an entrance on the Polcevera river side of the
site (Via Trenta Giugno) to allow personnel to enter on foot.
It was a mutual effort: on one hand Ansaldo Energia received significant support from the local competent
authorities; on the other, it offered assistance to the local area with various initiatives: it hosted 24/7 a medical
car and a team of six firemen plus their equipment and vehicles, to provide an emergency service to the city
areas north of Morandi Bridge after its collapse; it offered accommodation, services and electric power to all
medical and fire service personnel; it offered skills and support to the Commissioner for bridge reconstruction,
Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci.

Impiantistica Italiana - Novembre-Dicembre 2019 55 55