Italy’s cabinet approved a new decree-law on 13 October to support Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI), also known as former Ilva, and its direct and contractor workers.
The decree-law responds to “urgent measures to support workers at former Ilva and its supply chain, and to relaunch industry in the area,” the government says in a note obtained by Kallanish.
The decree allows the special commissioners to keep the Taranto blast furnaces and steel shop hot in order to avoid irreparable damage to the equipment. This applies until the publication of the reasoning behind the expected Supreme Court’s ruling on 20 October.
The reasoning will be published by 15 December. Emissions monitoring must continue even though production has stopped.
To keep the plants operational during the ongoing sale process, the government will also release the final tranche of an existing loan to ADI which a source close to the company believe to be around €40 million.
The decree also aims to bring new industry to Taranto beyond steel.
Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) will gather and coordinate proposals for private investment on ADI’s land and on nearby state-owned port and military areas suitable for industry. It will then draw up an investment plan for cabinet approval.
As part of the sale process, the special commissioners will also be able to sell or lease land not used for steel production separately, as long as the projects are included in the plan.
Meanwhile, a Fiom union source confirms that Fim, Fiom, Uilm unions will implement a 48 hour strike.
