The regional cabinet greenlit the funds from the Sicily Development and Cohesion Plan (PSC) to secure industrial water supplies for the Etna Valley technology district, specifically targeting infrastructure needed for Europe’s first fully integrated silicon carbide semiconductor plant.
Water Infrastructure Upgrades for Catania’s Industrial Zone
The 7,2 million euro allocation responds directly to a formal request from the Catania municipal administration, according to regional government documents. The funding will execute the highest-priority project in the city’s municipal plan, which aims to overhaul water and sewage networks across the technological district to accommodate rapid industrial expansion and attract new capital.
Engineering plans for the technical and economic feasibility of the upgrades are already complete. According to the city’s schedule, construction will take 10 months once awarded, with the municipal utility company Sidra designated as the primary implementing body.
President Renato Schifani stated that the project demonstrates the region’s commitment to supporting major manufacturing investments with robust infrastructure. According to the regional president, ensuring an efficient water supply in the Etna Valley underpins one of Europe’s most significant industrial semiconductor initiatives, complementing a separate 50 million euro initiative launched weeks prior for broader industrial zone revitalization through 2021–2027 FSC funds.
Backing Europe’s First Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Campus
The modernization of the Pantano d’Arci well field serves as a foundational requirement for the Silicon Carbide Campus project led by STMicroelectronics, according to regional policy documents. The project represents a five billion euro investment, which the Sicilian regional government is co-financing with 300 million euros from the 2021–2027 Regional ERDF Program, aligning with the European Union’s Chips Act and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP).
Once operational, the Campus Sic facility will stand as Europe’s first integrated plant capable of performing every stage of silicon carbide semiconductor production on a single site within the Etna Valley.
Next Steps for Legislative and Financial Approval
The technical reallocation proposal was developed by the programming department of the Sicilian Presidential Office, following joint submissions from the Productive Activities and Water and Waste departments. The regional government confirmed that the proposal will now move to the PSC Sicily Monitoring Committee to secure formal financial coverage and update the regional plan accordingly.
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