Acciaierie d’Italia, the joint venture between ArcelorMittal and state-owned Invitalia, is restarting equipment at the Taranto steelworks, Kallanish learns from trade unions.
Last month, the steelmaker mothballed blast furnace No.4 because of a technical issue. Meltshop No.1 is also idled, together with continuous casting units No.1 and 5.
This week, coke battery No.12 is resuming production, while from 17 January maintenance works will start at Meltshop No.1. This is a prelude to the resumption this month of BF No.4.
In October last year, the steelmaker restarted BFs 1 and 4. The latter was idled for about seven months and the company spent €70 million ($80m) on upgrade works.
Acciaierie d’Italia posted approximately 4.4 million tonnes of output in 2020 and had a production target of 5mt last year. Output for 2021 is yet to be announced.
The steelmaker will produce 8mt in 2025, its management confirmed last month during a meeting with unions and authorities at Italy’s Ministry for Economic Development in Rome.
Natalia Capra France
