Acciaierie d’Italia extends layoffs, operates two BFs

Italian steelmaker Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI), the joint venture between state company Invitalia and ArcelorMittal, is to extend its temporary layoffs until June for up to 3,000 workers mainly at its Taranto steelworks, sources close to the company confirm to Kallanish.

This extends the current layoff scheme at Taranto, previously set to expire on 27 March, where about 2,500 workers will be affected. The remaining workers will be laid off at the Racconigi, Genoa and Novi Ligure sites.

In a document sent to unions, the company says it is planning the reconstruction of blast furnace no.5 which has been idle for several years, together with an electric arc furnace. This year, the steelmaker has vowed to produce about 11,000 tonnes/day of pig iron, or 4 million tonnes/year, using between two and three blast furnaces. This compares to an average of 20,000 t/d that could be produced without layoffs, the document says.

Last month, the Italian finance ministry (Mef) officially authorised the payment of €680 million ($718m) to Acciaierie d’Italia. In 2023, the plant in Genoa will benefit from a revamping of the tinplate re-rolling lines, while Novi Ligure will see a revamp of the coating line. ADI will also boost the Racconigi warehouses’ automation (see Kallanish passim).

Acciaierie d’Italia employs over 10,000 workers. It is currently operating with BFs no.1 and no.4, while BF no.2 remains idle.

Natalia Capra France