A-Infos (en) Italy, FAI, Umanita Nova #4-26 - Oysters and Oil. La Spezia: Pipeline Expansion (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Even though there's much talk of a green economy, the driving force 
behind this cursed economic system is still the same: oil, black gold. 
To grab oil reserves, states flex their muscles, and those muscles need 
to be oiled, like bodybuilders, but in this case with oil, because the 
military apparatus, despite having invested money in new technologies, 
absolutely needs oil, and in large quantities. The article published in 
Umanità Nova issue 2/2026, titled "Climate of War," well argued the 
enormous environmental impact caused by the military apparatus, both in 
peacetime and, exponentially, during ongoing wars.

Think global and act local: let's embrace this phrase to move from a 
comprehensive yet partial, simple, and modest analysis to action, 
monitoring, and reporting on what happens in our territories, which are 
too often used, abused, and stolen for interests that certainly don't 
concern the people who live there. The residents of Coltano, San Piero, 
Niscemi, Pordenone, and La Spezia know something about it, and we could, 
alas, name many other places that have been victims of these brutal 
forced occupations.

On Sunday, January 18th, in Marola (a small seaside village near La 
Spezia, but deprived of that very sea by the Navy), a meeting convened 
by the Murati Vivi Association was held in the premises of the historic 
Mutual Aid Society. The meeting was to discuss the military base and the 
imminent project to expand it due to the need for upgrades to meet NATO 
standards. These projects include the expansion of the pier that 
supplies fuel to air bases throughout northeastern Italy. Here it is, 
the oil returns, only to disappear into 900 kilometers of pipelines and 
cross six regions, seventeen provinces, and 136 municipalities, starting 
from La Spezia and reaching the bases of Aviano, Ghedi, Rivolto, and 
Cervia. Inaugurated in 1960, the pipeline has continuously pumped up to 
a maximum of 1.6 million liters per day, a record achieved during the 
Kosovo war. The entire facility is under the control and management of 
the Italian Air Force's POL Network Command, based in Parma. Its 
operation costs approximately fourteen million euros per year.

The pipeline begins its journey in the Ligurian port, and as previously 
mentioned, crosses the La Spezia area, where there are two storage 
facilities (Pianazze with a capacity of 2,250 tons, and Vezzano Ligure 
with a capacity of 40,100 tons). Requests for a safety plan, advanced 
over time by residents, pressing the mayors of municipalities in the La 
Spezia area, have been ignored, ignored by various defense ministers. 
This is despite the fact that two spills have highlighted serious 
problems for the environment and for the population, who have seen the 
oil nearly pass under their feet.

Now that the winds of war are blowing, the NATO pipeline upgrade 
project, on hold since 2012, has resurfaced, having received all the 
necessary authorizations for the planned work. For La Spezia, the first 
step will begin this spring: the consolidation of the maritime platform 
overlooking the Gulf of Ruffino, directly in front of the mussel and 
oyster farms, the pride of the La Spezia sea. The construction of a new 
jetty and two berths at the end of the pipeline for tankers up to 80,000 
tons is planned. The next step will be increased fuel pumping, 
strengthening the pipeline network to meet the growing needs of military 
aircraft on permanent alert. The project is considered strategic for 
military defense: the Hub is the only marine point for the delivery and 
collection of aviation fuel, a special kerosene with additives, 
designated F35 in NATO code, specifically for military fighter jet engines.

Estimated cost at the time of construction: thirty-eight million, but 
we're sure it will increase.

Forget about oysters and champagne.

La Spezia Antimilitarist Committee

https://umanitanova.org/ostriche-e-petrolio-la-spezia-ampliamento-delloleodotto/
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