CREAM – In the Crema subsoil, after the green light to increase pressure in natural cavities, almost 40% of Italy’s methane gas reserves are stored. They are managed by the Stogit company, part of the Snam group. Dozens of wells at depths varying between 1,300 and 1,400 meters which, the municipal administrators reassure, are constantly monitored with special sensors and therefore safe. In this regard, the system for detecting underground microearthquakes has never recorded tremors in the areas affected by the deposits.
Stogit manages the two large power plants in Sergnano (with 38 sites) and between Ripalta Cremasca and Guerina, with 40. They mean over 7 billion cubic meters of gas, out of around 19 in the whole country, based on the latest data update. Over the years, this massive presence has raised more than one concern, as in the case of Sergnano where, for some time, citizens and political forces have mobilized and have repeatedly raised doubts about the actual safety of the plant.
«On this front we are absolutely calm. There is constant dialogue with Stogit and their security systems are very advanced — assures the mayor of Ripalta Cremasca Aries Bonazza —: on Monday, among other things, we will bring the new civil protection plan to the city council, which also includes interventions for any emergencies due to problems that may occur at the power station.” And also Ripalta’s colleague Guerina Luca Guerini is in constant contact with the Sman group company. The continuous seismic and environmental monitoring activity was a measure strongly supported by the mayors during the negotiations and accepted in the drafting of the storage agreements”.
Mayor Aries Bonazza
In Sergnano, for example, the mayor Angelo Scarpelli has always considered it fundamental: «An important agreement, for the security of our country and our territory, given that we have obtained precise commitments in this sense from Stogit, with the increase in controls and monitoring regarding the air, but also the seismic risk and the environmental risk in general.”
Having similar gas reserves underground in Cremasco – another plant in the province is located in Bordolano – obviously also brings advantages. That is, the possibility for the municipalities that host them to have access to important economic resources, for the so-called environmental compensations.
Mayor Luca Guerini
In detail, for the Ripalta concession, 1.73 million euros were ensured by Stogit in November as environmental compensation against the authorization to increase the overpressure capacity, issued in July 2023 by the ministry. With a distribution established on the basis of the inhabitants and the area of land involved: 796 thousand euros (46%) went to Ripalta Cremasca, 696 thousand euros (40%) to Ripalta Guerina, 174 thousand euros (10%) to Ripalta Arpina. Finally, Castelleone 69,400 euros (4%). Up to almost 2 billion cubic meters of gas can be stored underground in the Ripalto area.
Mayor Angelo Scarpelli
And Mayor Bonazza announced that further resources will arrive: «We will receive two more contributions, both worth 250 thousand euros. We will then have to decide how to use them». Sergnano obtained 950 thousand euros, another 55 thousand euros went to each of the neighboring towns of Casale Cremasco and Ricengo, after the authorization which now allows Stogit to pump up to 2 billion 850 million cubic meters of methane into the wells.
