Infrastructure sustainability and safety

To develop the new sites, as well as technical and economic feasibility criteria, Snam adopts procedures that respond to stringent environmental and safety compatibility evaluations.

The assessments of the effects on the environment involve all phases of the life cycle of the works, localisation, planning, realisation, operation and decommissioning. These assessments are made under the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure, at the end of which the central and local administrations issue the permits required by existing law. With regard to the realisation of the most important works (compression stations or large pipelines), Snam evaluates the direct and indirect economic and social repercussions on the land and on local communities.

The measurements and estimates are carried out using social impact assessment tools and methods.

The results of the analyses conducted demonstrate that, by adding together Snam’s direct investments and indirect investments (related to sub-contracting), there is, on average, an effect on the local economy, at municipal, provincial and regional level, equal to 17-28% of the economic value related to the realisation and operation of the work.

During the design phase, the layout is selected from several alternatives, seeking to avoid or minimise extension into areas of significant natural or cultural interest, archaeological areas, geologically unstable areas and man-made areas, or areas in which the construction of new housing is planned.

In some cases, during the construction phase (subject to technical feasibility), certain procedures and technologies are used to reduce interference with the surrounding environment. These include reducing the length of working shifts, minimising temporary building site infrastructure, and using trenchless execution techniques (tunnels and micro-tunnels) as an alternative to traditional digging. Having completed the works, a careful environmental restoration operation is carried out to return the land to its original condition.

During operation, the plants are monitored 24 hours a day, and simulation and optimisation programs are used to guarantee the best setting with the goal of reducing fuel consumption and containing emission levels.

The line sections are then inspected regularly on foot, using motor vehicles and helicopters in order to detect potentially hazardous situations caused, for example, by the works of third parties in the area of the pipelines. Similarly, any land slippage at specific points of the route is also kept under surveillance. The integrity of the pipelines is also monitored by passing devices along them known as “intelligent pigs”, which can detect any faults or irregularities in the material.