The publication date of the documents was respected by all Regions regional tenders for the modernization of millsi that the ministerial decree had indicated by 31 October. From next week, therefore, start submitting applications which will generally have to be received within the 15 January 2024, even if there is news of Regions (as in the case of Calabria) which brought forward the expiry times.
Divided between the various Regions, depending on their weight in the olive oil sector, i 100 million total budget! Public support for eligible costs is foreseen at 65%, but it gets to80% for investments by young farmers.
There was no uniformity on the part of the Regions in the selection criteria of the individual tenders desired above all by those companies that support oil millers in evaluating the opportunity of the investment and assisting them in the various administrative procedures. This made it so each Region decides independently, within the limits allowed by the Ministerial Decree, the attribution of scores on the various items that make up the final ranking.
In any case, now that we have entered the crucial phase, it is worth remembering the interventions permitted by type of machine, in line with the objectives set by the Decree.
crushers – The replacement of hammer crushers with crushers that operate a "differentiated" crushing on the constituent parts of the fruit is permitted. This is to ensure the improvement of the quality of the virgin and extra virgin olive oil due to the increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds with an antioxidant action.
Grams – The replacement of traditional kneading machines with continuous/confined kneading machines is eligible for financing. Coherent intervention for the reduction of the quantity of oxygen present with a corresponding increase in the phenolic content of virgin and extra virgin olive oils without modifying the volatile compounds. Again for the malaxers, the purchase of high energy efficiency heat exchangers for the heat exchange for the rapid thermo-conditioning of the olive paste in post-pressing is also supported by a contribution. This intervention aimed at three objectives: increase in the efficiency of the positive and negative heat exchange, with a reduction in the consumption of energy used for the conditioning of the pastes carried out with other methods (eg kneading machines); increase in product quality in terms of oxidative stability and concentration of phenolic compounds; increase in the concentration of volatile compounds characteristic of the individual varieties, which contribute to increasing the intensity of the "green" type of fruitiness.
Decanters – The replacement of three-phase extraction plants with new two-phase extraction plants or alternatively with low-dilution three-phase extraction installations is financed (also including multi-phase extraction installations). Coherent intervention also in this case with at least three objectives: the reduction of the quantity of source water used for dilution in the extraction phase, which goes from 0,5 – 0,2 mc/ton to 0,2 – 0 mc/ton of processed olives; the reduction of the production of vegetation waters with polluting power; finally, the production of oils with a higher concentration of phenolic compounds with an antioxidant action.
Separators – The tender allows public support to be received for the addition of the vertical separator in plants without it, in line with the dual objective on the one hand of producing cleaner oil in terms of vegetation water, solid and mucilaginous residues, on the other a reduction in filtration times and in the amount of filter material to be disposed of.
In addition to the four types of standard machinery for oil mills, the tender also examines other opportunities not always strictly connected to the production of olive oil (but linked more to interventions for the recovery of by-products).
Below is the timetable:
• by October 31, 2023 – Publication of regional tenders;
• by January 15, 2024 – Deadline for acquiring support applications;
• by April 30, 2024 – Selection of eligible applications and formation of the ranking (list of eligible projects) and communication to the beneficiaries with indication of the conditions for the financing and implementation of the initiative;
• by May 10, 2024 – Transmission to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the Regions and autonomous Provinces, of the outcome of the selection of the applications and the formation of the ranking with the indication of the sums exceeding those necessary for the payment of all the admitted beneficiaries, for the purposes of the subsequent reallocation of the resources from the Ministry, in implementation of the provisions of point 1) of Section I;
• by May 20, 2024 – Reassignment by the Ministry of the excess resources referred to in the previous point, pursuant to the provisions of points 2) and 3) of Section I;
• by January 31, 2026 – Completion of investments and submission of the request for payment of the balance by the beneficiaries;
• by May 31, 2026 – Disbursement of the balance contribution to all beneficiaries.
For more information, send an email to olivonews@pieralisi.com and you will be promptly contacted.
