Page 71 - Industrial Plants
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economic value. Di Amato explains: «In Italy we have
already implemented this technology in an industrial
plant in the province of Brescia. Managed by MyReplast
Industries (a subsidiary of NextChem) the Bedizzole
plant is currently one of the largest and most advanced
in Europe: in one year we have transformed 40
thousand tons of recycled polymers, equal to the
plastic consumption of one million people. This activity
has made it possible to save 270,000 barrels of oil per
year, equivalent to about 8,500 tons of CO2».
With the Circular Districts - says
the Chairman - not only do we
significantly increase the recycling
rate of our country, but at the same
time we reduce the emissions At the end of September 2020, the Alliance for the
altering climate, promote sustainable Circular Economy comprising 17 companies (including
mobility, create jobs, professional NextChem) presented a position paper for the
growth and new opportunities development of a circular economic model. According
for the territory and the companies to the Alliance, a unique opportunity has arisen today
in the sector to relaunch a coordinated and decisive commitment to
a new development model. «The Covid-19 crisis -
As previously mentioned, the Circular District model is explain the companies - reinforced what the climate
particularly suitable for the green conversion of crisis predicted and showed how systems (natural,
traditional industrial sites with processes based on the economic and social) are strongly interconnected:
use of raw materials derived from fossil resources, pursuing a circular economic model is not only an
which would be replaced with feedstock derived from obligation but an opportunity to relaunch the overall
renewable and circular resources. competitiveness of the country». The vision of the
Alliance calls for a circular development that starts from
«The contribution to the decarbonization and green the enhancement of Italian excellence, and which will
conversion of brownfield industrial sites - says Di be realized, on the one hand through the support of
Amato - began with a project in collaboration with ENI companies to promote sustainable innovation, and on
for the Venice refinery with the aim of producing the other hand through the involvement and support of
Circular Hydrogen. Another project involves the refinery the supply chains, in order to extend the useful life of
of Livorno, where we will produce methanol again products and maintain their value. «Networking with
using the same process, while in Taranto the Circular the companies of the Alliance for the Circular Economy
District model designed for the territory foresees the - concluded Di Amato - allows us to compare these
partial replacement of feedstock deriving from fossil issues from a broader perspective. The aim is to
resources, currently used by the industries of the provide a stimulus for these issues to grow in the
industrial sector. The production of Circular Gas will be economic world and in civil society».
The valorization of consumption
waste, the extension of the life cycle Chemical Recycling
of products, the use of secondary raw The technological solution developed by NextChem,
materials for recycling and the use of integrating several established technologies, combines
energy from renewable resources all two objectives, circular economy and decarbonisation.
contribute to the definition of a model On one side it provides for the domestic production of
of sustainable development for the chemicals that are currently imported from abroad. On
environment and economic growth another side, it allows the green relaunch of brownfield
industrial sites, with positive consequences for the
placed in a context of industrial symbiosis, thanks to an sector industries and employment.
industrial district of excellence in which the A central element of the technology platform is the
infrastructure, facilities and skills of the former Ilva steel chemical conversion of hydrogen and carbon contained
plant and the Eni refinery remain». in Plasmix (the waste discarded from sorted plastics)
and RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel consisting of plastics
IndustrIal Plants - September 2021
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