The two power lines, called “Birgi” and “Verderame”, which crossed the northern part of the Saline di Trapani and Paceco regional nature reserve, a wetland of international importance managed by WWF Italy and recognized pursuant to the Ramsar and natural site of the Natura 2000 network protected by the European Union.
The two power lines, starting close to the Port of Trapani, after crossing the salt pans area, reached Nubia, in the territory of the Municipality of Paceco. The observations carried out by WWF Italy had made it clear the need to remove these two plants to eliminate any possible environmental impact in an area located along a very important migratory route for the avifauna that moves between the African and European continents and which finds in the tanks of this protected site a resting and feeding place, both during migration and during the wintering period.
As part of the actions envisaged to achieve the objectives of protecting the protected site and in application of national and regional regulations and community directives for the protection of migratory avifauna, the managing body asked E-Distribuzione, the group company Enel, which manages the medium and low voltage electricity grid, to eliminate the lines, so as to be able to exclude possible risks of electrocution and impact for birds in transit.
The electricity company accepted the WWF’s request and acquired both the necessary authorizations to build, outside the Reserve, two new underground electricity lines capable of continuing to ensure the regularity and continuity of the electricity service in the area, and to carry out the decommissioning work on the two existing power lines, consisting of a total of 40 pylons and pylons, in addition to the support bases and approximately 7,000 meters of overhead conductors.
