ArcelorMittal Italia is reducing production volumes at its main steelworks in Taranto, Kallanish learns from trade unions at the site.
Steel shop number 1 and blast furnace no. 2 will be idled together this week with the plate mill and strip mill no. 1. The company will implement temporary layoffs for half of the workers for a period of nine weeks, extending its current temporary layoffs (see Kallanish passim).
Work on blast furnace no. 2 to improve safety, already planned before the outbreak of the coronavirus, will be carried out. Of over 8,200 workers at the Taranto site, 3,200 will be working. Production will be reduced gradually from Tuesday 17 March, the source adds. The company is currently producing 8,000 tonnes/day of pig iron. This would mean output of approximately 2 million tonnes/year or -50% less compared to pig iron volumes being produced before the virus.
A request for comment from ArcelorMittal Italia remained unanswered before Kallanish publication deadline.
While the Taranto output will be cut, the rolling lines located in Genova will also be stopped due to the coronavirus emergency, Kallanish learns from unions.
