Steel Pipes and Global Networks: The Influence of Dalmine S.p.A in Shaping Resource Extraction Infrastructures

Pipelines for extracting oil, gas, water, and supporting energy systems are part of the infrastructure of extractive sites, especially marked in countries with less urbanized areas. Throughout the twentieth century, such regions were influenced by economic neocolonialism, which dictated the patterns of resource exploitation and growth. This logic is not exclusive to the last century but is currently active, leading to profound urban and ecological changes. Alluding to my ongoing Ph.D. research, this essay is part of a dedicated chapter of my thesis that correlates market colonization and space production. Within the proposed topic of the Summer School and reflecting on the empirical experiences and research presented, this text briefly discusses how supplier companies support direct and indirect extractive activities and foster urban development. The exercise of observing TenarisDalmine by the impact of its products shifted my perspective on how the company town of Dalmine was connected to a global network of extractive activities and had an economic and ecological impact in supporting an international network of exploitation and colonialization. More than only the raw materials, the capital involved in the extractive operations involves spatial and social capital. Extractive sites in foreign countries led to cultural exchanges, primarily in the realm of technical culture. Engineers and specialists were dispatched to those new extractive sites to introduce advanced technologies and implement patents in the host country, adapting to another way of working and living.