Banco BPM has finalized a 21 million euro financing operation for Duferco Travi e Profilati, a Duferco Group company based in San Zeno Naviglio, in the province of Brescia, Italy.
The transaction, with a term of 120 months and backed by a 70% SACE Growth guarantee, is aimed to support the investment plan of the subsidiary Duferco Terminal Mediterraneo S.p.A., which manages the activities of the Duferco Group’s new multi-purpose container terminal, located in Sicily, in Pace del Mela – Giammoro district, between Milazzo and Messina.
The project is part of the redevelopment process of the Giammoro steel hub, carried out by Duferco with a total investment of 95 million euros. The redevelopment plan, presented by the Group last year, in addition to the Duferco Terminal Mediterraneo activities has already included the realization of a peaker plant, made available to Terna to ensure the security of the regional electricity system and its environmental sustainability, and the Hydrogen Valley, a project that aims to develop in the Giammoro area a plant capable of producing about 100 tons per year of green hydrogen through a 4 MW photovoltaic plant and a 1 MW electrolyzer.
The implementation of the infrastructure works plan will have important spin-offs for the economy of Sicily and, in particular, for construction companies and the entire supply chain. The project also has positive effects in terms of employment, thanks to the program of hiring and specific training of workers from the former Giammoro industrial hub, who will be included by Duferco in a progressive manner consistent with the planned expansion of business volumes.
“I would like to thank Banco BPM and SACE for the trust placed in our project,” comments Antonio Gozzi, Chairman of Duferco Group. – The industrial plan for the reconversion of the Giammoro area for Duferco represents a strategic activity. Our goal is to consolidate and develop existing employment, focusing on three fundamental pillars: energy, logistics and services related to infrastructure investments.”