The Court of Taranto, in line with the recent decree issued by the Italian government, has approved the petition filed yesterday, December 4, by the lawyers of Taranto-based Italian steel producer Ilva. The company requested the revocation of the order issued by the court on July 26 this year for the seizure of Ilva’s upstream facilities, including blast furnaces, coke ovens, and iron ore and coal storage yards.
As a result, Ilva now has the right to exploit its blast furnaces, while performing the upgrade works imposed by the Environmental Integrated Authorization (EIA) issued by Italy’s Ministry of Environment in late October.
Meanwhile, the recent seizure order issued by the Court of Taranto affecting semi-finished and finished steel products produced by Ilva from July 26 to November 26 is still in force. In the next few days, Taranto magistrates are expected to express their view also on this matter, as Ilva has also filed a petition in relation to the issue, based on the assumption that the context has changed since the government issued its decree to save Ilva while forcing the company to follow the path traced by the EIA.
On July 26 this year, a Taranto court decision had ordered the shutdown of selected blast furnaces and coke oven batteries at the Ilva complex in Taranto due to the environmental impact of Ilva on its surrounding area.