Sasol, Versalis issued with notices of seizure by Italian authorities at Augusta, Priolo plants

LONDON (ICIS)–Sasol and Versalis have been issued with seizure notices by Italian authorities regarding their petrochemicals facilities in Augusta and Priolo.

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A company source at Versalis said that the Priolo plants have been impounded by Syracuse city prosecutors, and a company spokesperson for Sasol confirmed that the company’s Italian subsidiary has received a seizure notice.

“Today [Thursday], the Prosecutor’s Office of Syracuse issued Sasol Italy with a notice of preventive seizure,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company is cooperating with authorities.

Operations are currently ongoing and supply of products from the site to customers continues, despite the seizure notice, the spokesperson added.

According to local media reports, the seizure relates to illegal emissions of pollution at the site between January 2014 and June 2016.

Versalis is cooperating with authorities and expects to be able to prove that it acted in compliance to environmental regulations, the source added.

Sasol did not comment on the reason for the Prosecutor’s Office investigation, except to say that it has made significant investments into improving environmental standards at the Augusta complex.

Sasol produces alkylbenzene at the Augusta site, according to ICIS data.

Versalis produces benzene, mixed xylenes, crude C4s, ethylene, propylene and pyrolysis gas at the Priolo complex, although it is unclear at this stage which units are affected by the impound order.

Additional reporting by Ciaran Tyler