Press release

Tender awarded to select a private partner for Aretusacque, the company that holds the concession for integrated water service management in the town and province of Syracuse

Acea consolidates its leadership in the water sector, expanding its presence in Italy, where over ten million residents are presently served, adding, alongside the established management role already performed in six regions, also Sicily, a location that requires major investments in the water sector.

In fact, by way of decision no. 2 dated 6 September 2024, the Syracuse Territorial Water Board (ATIS) awarded in favour of the Temporary Association of Enterprises - formed by Acea Molise (100% Acea) and the company COGEN - the tender to select a private partner for Aretusacque spa, a joint venture to be 51% owned by the local municipalities. The company will be responsible for managing the Integrated Water Service pertaining to 19 municipalities in the province of Syracuse; the concession will have a duration of 30 years from the date of its launch.

The tender, which has an estimated value of over 1.2 billion Euro, concerns the management of about 2,000 km of water network, around 1,300 km of sewerage network, 166 thousand users, corresponding to 390 thousand residents served. The investments envisaged in the tender amount to approximately 366 million Euro.

Fabrizio Palermo, Acea’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager commented: “We are pleased with the outcome of the tender which allows us to expand our core business with the entry of a new important region such as Sicily, strengthening our sector leadership in Italy, in keeping with the strategy indicated in our business plan. The competence and professionalism of our people, together with our industrial management of infrastructures and experience gained through collaboration with public partners will enable us to improve the efficiency and quality of water services for the benefit of Syracuse and the Municipalities managed by the Integrated Water Service, residents and businesses, supporting the conscious utilisation of water resources and the conservation thereof during periods of increasing water scarcity such as those we are currently facing”.