ENI Centro Oli freed in Basilicata oil (2)

(ANSA) - Potenza, June 1 - Potenza prosecutors on Wednesday freed from seizure oil giant ENI's Centro Oli processing plant at Viggiano, the centre of a probe which resulted in former industry minister Federica Guidi resigning amid conflict-of-interest claims. Until March 31 the plant processed around 75,000 barrels a day, before two tanks and a reinjection well were seized.
    Prosecutors on Tuesday greenlit work to modify the plant. The freeing up of the plant aims to enable some "technical modifications proposed by ENI within the framework of the end-of-seizure request presented by the company May 20, and upheld by the prosecutors," ENI said. The work is expected to take three months at the most. State-controlled ENI, nine other companies, and 60 individuals have been investigated for illegal waste trafficking in the southern Basilicata region, prosecutors said earlier this month.
    The 70 subjects were notified that the investigation has ended, in Italy usually a prelude to indictment.
    Prosecutors say ENI reaped millions in "unjust profits" from illegally dumping waste from its oil treatment plant near the town of Viggiano in the southern Agri Valley. As well, the probe found irregularities in the construction of the Tempa Rossa oil centre between Corleto Perticara near Potenza and Gorgoglione near Matera.
    Former Total chiefs as well as various businessmen and officials were sentenced to terms ranging from two to seven years in prison on April 4.
    The current suspects include former Corleto Perticara mayor Rosaria Vicino from Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD), former Basilicata environmental department chief Donato Viggiano, former ENI southern region exec Ruggero Gheller, his current replacement Enrico Trovato, and five ENI staffers who have been under house arrest since March 31.
    ENI earlier defended its Viggiano plant operations.
    "The Agri Valley (plant) respects international best practices" while company studies have indicated "no health or environmental risks", an ENI spokesperson said.
    The probe in question does not cover a related one in Sicily - that investigation is still ongoing - nor a connected influence-peddling probe into the so-called "oil gang" led by Gianluca Gemelli, the boyfriend of former industry minister Guidi.