Italy's Ilva BF 2 to continue production

A court in Taranto, Italy, said today that it has upheld an appeal against the shutdown of blast furnace 2 at Ilva's Taranto steel plant, operated by Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal.

The furnace had been expected to account for 1.5mn t of the 5mn t due to be produced by Ilva assets in 2019.

Taranto public prosecutors ordered the furnace's shutdown in July, citing unsatisfactory safety improvements after an accident in 2015 under Ilva's previous owners. The asset was scheduled to stop production on 10 October, but in September local authorities granted ArcelorMittal an extension. On 10 December, the Milan tribunal court again ordered a shutdown, but Ilva's administrators appealed, leading to a review.

The decision is crucial for continuing negotiations between ArcelorMittal and the Italian government. The steelmaker said in November that it plans to pull out of the Ilva investment because of the shutdown order and removal of its legal immunity, as well as the challenging market conditions, which have made the assets unprofitable. Many saw the move as a bargaining tool to reduce headcount.

source: Argus Media