Enel power plant seized as part of illegal waste probe (updated)

Cementir Holding NV

28/09/2017 15:47

(Adds ILVA statement, Cementir no comment, details) 
    MILAN, Sept 28 (Reuters) - An Italian judge has ordered the 
seizure of a power plant run by Italy's biggest utility Enel 
 ENEI.MI  in southern Italy as part of a probe into illegal 
waste, Enel said on Thursday, confirming what a source had told 
Reuters. 
    The probe, which began five years ago, revolves around 
allegations that dangerous waste was bought by cement maker 
Cementir  CEMI.MI  from Enel and steel maker ILVA to produce 
cement. 
    "The measures regarding Enel Produzione's power station 
regard the use of ash in secondary production processes," Enel 
said in a statement. 
    The state-controlled utility said it was confident it would 
be able to prove its production processes were proper and 
correct, adding that seizure of the plant in Cerano in the 
Apulia region did not compromise its operations there. 
    According to a source familiar with the matter, prosecutors 
also ordered the seizure of 500 million euros ($590 million) 
from Enel for alleged illicit profits as part of the 
investigation. 
    Enel declined to comment. 
    Special state-appointed commissioners representing ILVA 
acknowledged the investigation carried out by a court in the 
southern city of Lecce. 
    "The company is confident that at the end of the procedure 
it will be able to prove that ILVA respects EU rules on waste 
management and treatment," they said in a note. 
    The three commissioners are among those under investigation, 
the source said. 
    ILVA, Europe's biggest steel plant, was placed under court 
administration in 2013 amid allegations that toxic emissions 
were causing abnormally high rates of cancer in the area where 
it operates. 
    A group led by ArcelorMittal  MT.AS  has agreed to buy ILVA 
but is waiting for a decision from EU competition regulators. 
    Cementir declined to comment. 
($1 = 0.8477 euros) 
 
 (Reporting by Vincenzo Damiani and Stephen Jewkes, additional 
reporting by Stefano Bernabei, editing by Valentina Za and 
Adrian Croft) 
 ((stephen.jewkes@thomsonreuters.com; +39.0266129695; Reuters 
Messaging: stephen.jewkes.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: ENEL WASTE/PROBE