Ilva, for Urso the sale is now at risk: "Responsibility is needed from the institutions"

MILAN – The sale process of Ilva di Taranto risks being in the balance after the stoppage of the blast furnace following the accident on Wednesday and the subsequent seizure by the judiciary, with the green light for maintenance arriving too late, according to the minister. “ The production activity of blast furnace 1 has been compromised , which means that there will no longer be the possibility of resuming a significant production level such as that foreseen by the industrial plan that would have led to the full decarbonization of the plants, maintaining a significant production and therefore employment transformation phase". This was reiterated today by the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, on Radio 24, regarding the affair of the former Ilva. "We had said that it was necessary to carry out the activities to make the plant safe" of the former Ilva di Taranto. "Unfortunately, the authorization was given too late and the production activity, that is, blast furnace 1, was compromised", said the minister. "This means that there will no longer be the possibility of resuming a significant production level as foreseen in the industrial plan. This morning the commissioners will meet the unions to communicate to them the necessary interventions, including redundancy payments, given that production will have to be significantly reduced".

"Negotiations with Azerbaijanis continue on crucial issues"

Regarding the status of the negotiations, Baku Steel Company Urso said that “it is ongoing and has come

on the crucial points. We move forward with determination and we hope that everyone will collaborate. If we all row in the same direction we will reach the goal we set ourselves".

Urso launched an appeal " for maximum responsibility on such a significant and important dossier both for the Italian steel industry and for the prospects of our continent which in such a delicate phase on a geopolitical level - he observed - must guarantee our companies strategic autonomy and steel production".

As for the ongoing discussion between the commissioner and the unions, Acciaierie d'Italia in As has communicated to the unions the request for redundancy payments for 3,926 workers, of which 3,538 in the Taranto plant, after the halving of production following the seizure ordered by the prosecutor of blast furnace 1 where a serious fire occurred on May 7 due to the explosion of a pipeworker. Redundancy payments have also been requested for 178 workers at the Genoa site, 165 at Novi Ligure and 45 at Racconigi.