TRIESTE – Trieste enters the debate on the future European rare earths hub thanks to its port and logistics characteristics.
The project, promoted by Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, envisages the creation of an integrated system between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia for the storage and distribution of critical raw materials, with a possible centre in Porto Marghera and links to the hinterland and the logistics nodes of northern Italy.
In this context comes the position of the president of the Eastern Adriatic Sea Port System Authority, Marco Consalvo, who stresses that Trieste can play a direct role in the supply chain. The Friuli Venezia Giulia port, in fact, has water depths suitable for the arrival of large-capacity ships and a logistics network that allows efficient connections towards central and eastern Europe, both by rail and by road.
According to Consalvo, the decisive element is not so much the location of the storage site – which could also be in port hinterland areas or logistics hubs such as Verona, Padua or Cervignano – as the presence of a port capable of handling large volumes and ensuring continuity in flows. In this framework, Trieste, due to its infrastructural characteristics and rail integration, is presenting itself as one of the most suitable nodes.
The project stems from Europe’s need to reduce dependence on third countries, especially China, for the supply of raw materials essential to electronics, energy, defence and advanced technologies. The goal is to build a safer and more resilient supply chain, also through the creation of logistics and storage hubs close to the main industrial districts.
The initiative is still at an early stage. The Italian government is working on a proposal to be submitted to the European Commission, with the hypothesis of a pilot site in northern Italy. Technical assessments and a possible visit with the European Commissioner for Industry are expected in the coming months to identify the most suitable areas.