The

petrochemical Petrochemicals (sometimes abbreviated as petchems) are the chemical products obtained from petroleum by refining. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable s ...

complex of Augusta-Priolo (called ''Polo petrolchimico siracusano'' in Italian) is a vast industrialized coastal area in eastern

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

including the territory of the municipalities of Augusta,

Priolo Gargallo Priolo Gargallo ( Sicilian: ''Priolu'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily (southern Italy). It is about southeast of Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (po ...

and

Melilli Melilli ( Sicilian: ''Miliḍḍi'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily (southern Italy), located about southeast of Palermo and about northwestern of Syracuse. Geography Melilli stands at about above sea leve ...

. Main industrial activities are

oil refining An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial processes, industrial process Factory, plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refining, refined into products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, Bitumen, asphalt base, ...

, processing of oil derivatives and

energy production Energy development is the field of activities focused on obtaining sources of energy from natural resources. These activities include the production of renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuel derived sources of energy, and for the recovery and re ...

. The complex, whose beginnings date back to 1949, has produced significant environmental problems for the coastline and the entire area, as well as health issues and an increased death rate. The area is therefore often dubbed ''triangolo della morte'' (triangle of death). Among the companies in the region are

ExxonMobil Exxon Mobil Corporation ( ) is an American multinational List of oil exploration and production companies, oil and gas corporation headquartered in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Founded as the Successors of Standard Oil, largest direct s ...

Sasol Sasol Limited, commonly referred to as Sasol, is an integrated energy and chemical company based in Sandton, South Africa. The company was formed in 1950 in Sasolburg, South Africa, and built around coal liquefaction processes that German ...

Erg The erg is a unit of energy equal to 10−7joules (100Nano-, nJ). It is not an SI unit, instead originating from the centimetre–gram–second system of units (CGS). Its name is derived from (), a Greek language, Greek word meaning 'work' or ' ...

, Polimeri Europa and Syndial.

References

External links

* Chemical industry in Italy Petrochemical industry Pollution in Italy Petroleum industry in Italy Province of Syracuse {{environment-stub

See also

References

External links