The history of Liquichimica Biosintesi in Saline Joniche represents one of the most controversial and significant chapters in the industrial development of Southern Italy—an emblematic example of the challenges tied to economic growth in a fragile region like Calabria.

Built in the early 1970s with funds from the so-called “Colombo Package”, allocated following the protests in Reggio Calabria after the city lost its status as regional capital, the factory was part of an ambitious plan to industrialize Southern Italy.

Despite high expectations, the plant faced major difficulties from the very beginning, and after only a brief experimental phase, it was permanently shut down in 1978.

The abandonment of the facility left behind a heavy legacy: a complex of ruins and significant environmental damage. Today, it is also a site of interest for speculative industrial projects, such as a proposed coal power plant, which was strongly opposed by the local population and environmental groups.