9 people, Eni Spa probed over deadly Calenzano plant blast

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 19 - The State Attorney's Office in Prato has notified energy giant Eni Spa and nine people, including managers working for Eni and its contractor Sergen, that they are under investigation on charges including multiple manslaughter, culpable disaster and personal injuries in connection with the December 9 2024 blast at a refinery at Calenzano, in the province of Florence, in which five workers died, Prato Chief Prosecutor Luca Tescaroli said on Wednesday.
    Tescaroli said that the nine people being probed, including seven Eni managers in addition to two Sergen officials, face charges of multiple manslaughter, culpable disaster and personal injuries while the Rome-based Eni Spa is under investigation in connection with its alleged administrative responsibility related to the charges of manslaughter and injuries.
    The four deadly explosions at the Eni depot were a "predictable and avoidable event" based on the results of the investigation, said the chief prosecutor of Prato.
    Tescaroli in particular spoke about a "grave and inexcusable mistake" based on the security documentation released by Eni and Sergen, which carried out maintenance work on behalf of the energy giant, and on Sergen's activities connected to the repair of vapour units in which an engine was being used on a supply line to load oil on tanker trucks.
    This "generated heat in a high-risk area while operations to load tanker trucks were ongoing in parallel with Sergen's activities".
    Petrol, diesel and kerosene was received and stored at the 170,300- square-metre Calenzano facility and then distributed from it.
    The plant was connected to Eni's Livorno refinery via two pipelines.
    Eni said the facility had been operating since 1956. (ANSA).