Italian government rejects ArcelorMittal’s new Ilva industrial plan

The Italian government has rejected the recent industrial plan submitted by ArcelorMittal Italia to continue operating the former Ilva plants in Taranto and across Italy, Kallanish learns from unions and statements from government officials.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a televised interview that the government has refused the new industrial plan as it is too close to the initial proposal to cut 5,000 jobs. He assured that authorities are in the process of negotiating with the company.

Last week ArcelorMittal presented a new potential industrial plan to Italian authorities. Trade unions immediately called for a strike at the plants. The steelmaker said it would cut almost 4,700 jobs during the next three years. The first cuts would be in 2020 while the remainder would be in 2023 when the company proposes to idle blast furnace No. 2 and launch an electric arc furnace at the Taranto site (see Kallanish 4 December).