In the heart of the Steel Giant: the Enilive Biorefinery in Gela joins the Fai Days

The Enilive Biorefinery in Gela will exceptionally open to the public on March 21, 2026 on the occasion of the Spring Fai Days, entering for the first time into the national circuit of the Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano.

The initiative, promoted by the Fai Delegation of Caltanissetta, highlights not only the industrial conversion of the large Gela site but also the cultural value of a territory that, alongside the famous archaeological remains from the Greek to the medieval age, today offers important examples of industrial archaeology.

The visit route, titled “In the Heart of the Steel Giant”, will lead participants through a journey that intertwines past and future: from the historic Control Room of 1965, the heart of the traditional petrochemical plant, to the modern digital control room inaugurated in 2019, a symbol of the new era of biorefining.

The transformation of the site over the last thirty years tells a story of resilience and innovation: from the first discoveries of hydrocarbons to the birth of the petrochemical hub, up to the conversion initiated by Eni in 2014 and culminating in 2019 with the start of the plants that today produce Hvo and Saf-biojet biofuels exclusively from biogenic raw materials.

Thanks to the proprietary technology Ecofining, the Enilive Biorefinery represents an advanced model of circular economy and a strategic piece in the Italian energy transition, capable of transforming waste and residues into fuels for road, marine, rail, and air transport.

The extraordinary opening, as emphasized by the Head of the Fai Delegation of Caltanissetta Giulia Carciotto, stems from the desire to propose a new perspective on industrial heritage: industrial archaeology not as mere memory, but as a key to understanding the layers of work, stories, and transformations that have marked the territory.

In this sense, Gela confirms itself as a unique place, where Greek temples, medieval fortifications, and the testimonies of the great industrial era coexist in a complex and fascinating landscape, capable of narrating the deep identity of the community.

The visits, organized by the internal staff of the biorefinery, will take place in three shifts (9:30-11:30, 11:30-13:30, and 15:00-17:00) for a total of 150 participants divided into groups of 50 people. Suitable footwear will be required, as well as the signing of a liability waiver.

A rare opportunity to enter the “Steel Giant” and discover how a large industrial site can transform, regenerate, and contribute to envisioning a new future for Gela and its territory.