by Valentina Salcedo
In a monumental move, the Italian Society for the Transalpine Oil Pipeline, Siot Tal, is set to enhance its maritime terminal within the bustling port of Trieste. The ambitious project, with a price tag of €44.4 million, is poised to be the largest investment in Siot’s history.
Leading the charge is Fincantieri, the renowned Italian shipbuilding company, tasked with executing the project over the next two years. Alessio Lilli, President of Siot and CEO of the Tal Group, expressed the strategic importance of the initiative, stating, “Out of 265 different crude oil blends available, we receive between 40 and 60 varieties annually, each with vastly different chemical compositions. The enhancements are essential to cater to the diverse needs of refineries in the coming years, accommodating any type of vessel.”
The upgrade will be a phased process, with the first pier scheduled for completion by 2024, followed by the commencement of work on the second. Fincantieri Infrastructures Maritime Works, a subsidiary of Fincantieri Spa, faces a challenging undertaking, involving the installation of substantial structures and piles exceeding 70 meters in length.
Giorgio Bellipanni, CEO, commented, “We have successfully undertaken similar projects in La Spezia and are currently doing so in Ravenna, dealing with substantial diameters.”
During the construction period, oil tankers will continue to dock, maintaining overall volume, albeit with a reduced operational capacity of two berths instead of four.
Simultaneously, crude oil arrivals in Trieste are on the rise, reaching 38 million tons by the close of 2023. Projections indicate a further increase to over 40 million tons next year, with continued growth in 2025 as a ban on Russian crude, transiting through the Czech Republic, comes into effect.
