Brussels, 27/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Italian project aimed at granting preferential electricity tariffs for a number of large energy consuming industries in Sardinia will be the subject of an indepth inquiry. According to the proposal put forward, a preferential tariff would be granted until end 2010 to producers of stratified aluminium, aluminium, chlorine, lead and zinc and to public State funds (via the Cassa Conguaglio del Mercato Elettrico). This kind of operating aid is authorised in the context of regional aid schemes (Article 87§a) at strict conditions that the Commission doubts will be met in the case in hand, essentially the necessary nature of the aid, as it would seem that the general level of electricity prices in Sardinia is no higher than in other regions. This could therefore entail over-compensation. In the same way, it considers that aid does not aim at regional development but at assisting the island's limited economic sector. Finally, one of the potential beneficiaries of the measures envisaged, Euroallumina, previously received State aid declared illegal by the Commission and would therefore not be able to benefit from new aid without having previously reimbursed the aid declared incompatible with EU law.