Presented today by the CEO of A2A Renato Mazzoncini, athe presence of the President of the Region, Roberto Occhiuto, and the President of ANCI Calabria, Rosaria Succurro, the third edition of the Territorial Sustainability Report of Calabriawhich reports on the Group’s environmental, economic and social performance in the area in 2023 and the activity plans foreseen for the next few years.
“The presentation of the sustainability report and the return of the 2023 results is confirmation of the path of dialogue and discussion that we are carrying out with the stakeholders, in a Region, the third largest in terms of presence, which has assumed strategic importance for A2A” – declared Renato Mazzoncini, CEO of A2A – “Last year we distributed an economic value of 36 million euros across the territory and allocated almost 20 million, up 78% compared to 2022, to the development and renewal of the Group’s infrastructure. Our Strategic Plan to 2035 includes over 300 million euros of investments for the efficiency of the circular economy hub of Crotone, the optimization of existing hydroelectric assets and new pumping projects, thus contributing to promoting Calabria’s ecological transition”.
During the meeting, some findings of the report prepared by were anticipated SVIMEZ in collaboration with A2A, “A supply chain perspective for the protection of water resources in Calabria” which highlights the need for an integrated approach for the best management of water. In addition to an important recovery of the water resource for the benefit of citizens and businesses, the investments necessary for the protection of this primary asset would also generate a potential added value of 226 million euros by 2029 with repercussions in favor of the Calabrian economy.
In 2023, the Group generated a total value of 36 million euros for the territory, distributed between dividends, orders to suppliers, royalties, concessions, taxes, sponsorships and labor costs. At the same time, investments in plants and infrastructure for the ecological transition of the Region increased by 78% compared to the previous year, reaching 19.6 million euros. In Calabria, the Company deals with energy generation, treatment and waste-to-energy of industrial waste, public lighting and sale of energy and gas.
The Group produced 505 GWh of renewable energy from hydroelectric and photovoltaic sources, allowing the emission of 214 thousand tons of CO2 to be avoided. In the 2024-2035 strategic plan, A2A has foreseen over 200 million in investments for the maintenance and optimization of existing hydroelectric assets (10 power plants) and for the development of new pumping projects in order to optimize the use of the water resource.
In addition to the CS2 photovoltaic system – Girifalco, with 14 MW of installed power, two new 1 MW infrastructures will enter service in the Municipality of Tarsia (CS) during 2024. Furthermore, a partnership has been launched between Hitachi Rail and A2A – through A2A Energy Solutions – which involves the creation of new solar panels at Hitachi sites, one of these in Reggio Calabria.
Thanks to the contribution of the Scandale combined cycle thermoelectric power plant (of Ergosud, 50% owned by A2A Gencogas), approximately 1,300 GWh of energy was produced.
In the circular economy hub of Crotone, 34,230 tonnes of industrial waste were treated, generating over 10 GWh of net electricity. The Group has invested to guarantee the efficiency of processes and in the new 2024-2035 industrial plan it has foreseen over 100 million euros to equip existing treatment and waste-to-energy using the best available technologies and increase the overall capacity up to 300 thousand tonnes.
Protecting the well-being of your workers is another fundamental pillar: with the Life Caring plan, recently presented, investments of 120 million euros are expected by 2035 to support employee parenting. The Group also signed the “Businesses for People and Society” Manifesto, proposed by the UN Global Compact Network Italy, and obtained the Best HR Team 2023 Certification, promoted by the HRC Community Network. Approximately 5,000 hours of training were provided to employees working in Calabria.
Commitment to ESG issues which also takes the form of activities with its suppliers: 52 activated in 2023, of which 77% are micro or small businesses, for an order amount of 12.5 million. A handbook was also drawn up and made available to them to assist them in integrating sustainability into their business strategy.
In continuity with previous years, in 2023 the Group “started educational courses organized in schools – which involved more than 3,500 students and teachers during the school year – aimed at raising citizens’ awareness of the importance of respecting the environment”.
