The European Commission welcomes the creation of a hydrogen hub in the former Ilva– today Acciaierie d'Italia- a Taranto. Ensures financial support and strategic focus as part of the green transition. If the voice of the EU Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans is among the most authoritative in Europe and confirms what is being done in Puglia, it means that the road to the plant is the right one. There is no shortage of problems and there will be no shortage of them in the coming months, but they must be managed. Above all because the ability to make Taranto a model of development and sustainable economy is very practicable. Timmermans said it in a discussion with the inhabitants, invited by the Association Asvis at the Sustainable Development Festival. “Hydrogen will be essential for Europe's future economy, in particular for storing and transporting green energy” is his thought, also expressed to the European Parliament a few days ago. “I believe in green hydrogen as the driving force of our future. For this is the time to rethinking the industrial structure in a sustainable way”. Italy should show more conviction on long-term projects that involve sacrifices, but have hope inside. " There is no country more capable of doing this than Italy - says Timmermans - even if sometimes I wish there was a little more optimism and conviction in the strength of this country".
Taranto will be the hydrogen pole
The Commissioner's reasoning is that after transformations in the economic and social fabric caused by Covid, the battle against climatic effects takes place at all levels: global, European and local. For steel mills, the European Union will always need steel and it is necessary to produce it within Europe's borders. The approach to basic industry excludes lasting ties with countries outside the Union. This is the reason why Brussels still considers it strategic productive conversion of large companies. The former Ilva is among these, for which "steel must become green and must use clean energy, which would be electricity from wind power, photovoltaics but also hydrogen”. In this way there will be a future and jobs will be created.
TIMMERMANS: SAME VISION AS PRESIDENT BERNABE'
The picture drawn by Timmermans coincides with what supports the President of Acciaierie d'Italia, Franco Bernabe. There is financial support from the Commission, on condition that the new course is taken together with institutions and citizens: "If we do it together with industry, local, regional and national authorities, we'll get there, we'll make it". There contrast between environment and work? It is a false opposition as if climate and environmental action is against the interests of workers. We need to demonstrate that there is a clean world of work and improve the environment. “Taranto is the city that can become the symbol of this process,” said Timmermans. The time factor is essential to make the best use of it 800 million euro is preferably used for green conversion and lower dependence on fossil fuels. The meeting did not lack personal accents on the future of Europe and what we will leave to future generations: “I am a father and I am a grandfather and I don't want to sacrifice even a child. We must have the strength not to eliminate, but to rethink our industry and give it a sustainable future». The Acciaierie d'Italia, in transparency and with the consent of the workers, are ready.IL
