ArcelorMittal Italia boosts output

ArcelorMittal Italia has restarted meltshop no.1 and is in the process of restarting blast furnace no.2, as the firm previously promised, Kallanish learns from workers.

The plant will run with BF no.1 at 100% capacity, BF no.2 at 90% capacity, and BF no.4 at 85% capacity. Meltshop no.1 and BF no.4 will be idled in March for maintenance works but the procedure for idling BF no. 4 could start as early as 31 January, unions were told, due to environmental reasons.

After a meeting with unions in Taranto earlier this week, the company confirmed the steelworks will hit production of 5 million tonnes in 2021, up from 3.3mt in 2020.

The new 2021-2025 industrial plan for the relaunch of the former Ilva works involves an investment of €310 million ($375m) in 2021. It includes the remaking of blast furnace no.5, which has been idled since 2015, and a production ramp-up from 5mt to 8m t/year in 2025 (see Kallanish 13 January).

The current production boost is expected to ease tight coil supply in the Italian market. When contacted by Kallanish, ArcelorMittal Italia declined to comment.