Update: We won! In November 2018 Gas Natural finally cancelled its Trieste LNG terminal project.
On-shore fuel depots, in Trieste’s Southern Port. The LNG terminal would be right next to them, increasing the risk of significant accidents.
THE PROSECUTION SEEKS A 9 MONTHS JAIL TERM FOR PAOLO G. PAROVEL. SPANISH MULTINATIONAL COMPANY GAS NATURAL SEEKS A EUR. 100,000 COMPENSATION.
On Wednesday November 23rd [2016], at 10.15AM, continues the trial against Paolo G. Parovel, director of independent newspaper “La Voce di Trieste”. He is charged with defamation against Spanish multinational company Gas Natural.
The lawsuits follows Mr. Parovel’s investigative analyses about a corruption network that is attempting to force in Trieste’s international Free Port a LNG terminal. A facility that would be right next the Mediterranean sea’s main oil terminal (the SIOT).
Indeed, it is a very dangerous project. Not only it threatens the Gulf’s delicate maritime ecosystem, but also the area’s navigation safety, not to mention trades from and to the ports of Trieste and of Koper-Capodistria, which is bordering Slovenia’s only port. Furthermore, the pipeline connecting the LNG terminal to the distribution system would be underwater, and cut the gulf into two.
However, while Slovenia opposes the project fiercely, all of Trieste’s Italian authorities support it enthusiastically, across the board. So much so that Gas Natural’s project was approved despite clamorously forged documents.
For instance, decreasing the terminal’s destructive potential (only on paper, or course). This is not as harmless as it seems. Indeed, it was enough for local industrial plants at risk of relevant incident to change (read: relax) their emergency plans. Not a good idea, since the LNG terminal would border fuel depots and liquid oxygen storages.
On November 23 [2016] at 10.15AM (Court of Trieste – room 113) the prosecution has only one whitness: Gas Natural’s CEO, Mr. Javier Hernández Sinde. The Prosecution Office seeks a 9 months conviction for Paolo G. Parovel. Gas Natural seeks a EUR 100,000 compensation from the independent journalist. And all legal fees. Just to add insult to injury.
Still, since the opening of this abnormal trial to freedom of information, the Italian Anti-Mafia has investigated Gas Natural’s Italian branch. In 2014, Gas Natural’s whole Italian branch was seized for its involvement with the Mafia.
Both Italian and Spanish press published the news with the due relevance. However, in the present-day Free Territory of Trieste, only independent newspaper “La Voce di Trieste” wrote about it. And now its director stands trial. Only a coincidence?
Translated from blog “Environment and Legality” by Roberto Giurastante
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