No sensible person would dream of asking Britain or Norway to give up the exploitation of their offshore fields. If only because these activities allowed Great Britain to overcome the economic crisis of the late 70s and Norway to finance its development and its "sumptuous" welfare state. Instead, it would make sense to ask that these activities be carried out with the utmost respect for the environment and the safety of those who work there, that the most advanced technologies and the best professional skills are used and that the benefits are equally distributed and aimed at the development country general.
However, these are not the objectives that the regions promoting the April 17 referendum intend to pursue. What they actually propose is to start a process that leads to the cessation of all activity, both mining and research, in our territorial waters. In practice, they propose to prevent the use of the gas and oil reserves that our country has in those areas. A completely senseless thing and an offense against those who, starting with Enrico Mattei, have committed themselves to guaranteeing Italy a minimum of energy independence.
This claim must be rejected. First, clarifying the data. It is not true, as Greenpeace maintains, that the contribution of these activities to national needs is insignificant. Today, national production covers 10,3 of the oil requirement and 11,3 of that of gas. This "insignificant" produced in 2015 a reduction of the "energy bill" of about 4,5 billion euros! It is not even true that the sector is economically marginal. The turnover of the companies directly involved is 5,7 billion euros, which rises to 20 if we consider the turnover of the Italian related industries in the world. There are more than 130.000 people directly and indirectly involved in mining alone, which is far from a few. (more than 30.000 on Italian projects, between direct and indirect and non-oil and gas related industries and over 100.000 employees in the export related industries).
Beyond the number of employees and turnover, the quality of the companies, their know-how and the professionalism of their employees also count. The name of Micoperi applies to everyone, the company that righted and carried away the ship Concordia stranded on the island of Giglio. The management of the plants and platforms in recent years has guaranteed the safety of the workers and the protection of the environment. It does not appear that the City of Ravenna has suffered in terms of seaside tourism or the enhancement of its immense cultural heritage due to the fact that it hosts many of these activities. This sector invests more than 300 million in research, in close relationship with universities and polytechnics. The taxes it pays to the Treasury exceed 800 million and more than 400 are paid as royalties or fees. It is a sector that creates jobs and produces wealth, which spreads professionalism and skills and which "really gives a hand" to the country in a market, that of energy, which has an absolute strategic value.
But the regions that have asked for the referendum don't seem to be that much interested in energy problems. What matters to them is the relationship between the State and the Regions on energy policies. It is a real problem, which however needs to be tackled within the framework of the debate on institutional reforms and not by stealth. T he path chosen, that of the duration of the concessions, is wrong and the proposed referendum is instrumental and could prove disastrous. This is why it must be stopped and this can be done in only two ways: either by not going to vote (which is entirely correct if one considers that it was not the citizens who requested it by signing the application but the regional offices), or by voting NO. In any case, the hope is that common sense will prevail, in addition to the national interest.
Gianfranco Borghini is chairman of the committee for the no to the referendum on oil drilling.
