Ilva must start shutdown process by October 11

Monday, 08 October 2012 14:47:57 (GMT+3)   |  
       

On Saturday, October 6, Taranto-based Italian steel producer Ilva was ordered by local prosecutors to start by October 11 the shutdown of production facilities which it had previously been ordered to shut down amid concerns over the environmental impact on the surrounding area of toxic emissions from the steel complex.
 
This latest order from Taranto prosecutors followed a meeting last week with court-appointed special administrators at the plant, who stated that management at Ilva had not been cooperating with the original order to shut down the furnaces.
 
The previous directive of prosecutors ordered the shutdown of blast furnaces No. 1 and No. 5 and the sale of the blast furnace No. 3, which had already been shut down amid weak demand. In addition, seven coke oven batteries are also to be shut down.
 
Local prosecutor Franco Sebastio stated, "The company now has to say if it is in or out...As judges, I think we have shown throughout this time much common sense and patience. But our job is to uphold and enforce the laws. We need to commence action to stop the pollution caused by the steel plant and stop production, while trying not to prejudice a future recovery of the plants."
 
No official comment has been issued by Ilva, which is a subsidiary of the privately-owned Riva steel group. Meanwhile, Italian environment minister Corrado Clini commented, "Turning off Ilva in five days is impossible because it is a complex system. In fact, the prosecutor is just calling for the shutdown process to begin."
 
Some 12,000 jobs at Ilva’s Taranto facilities are at stake, as well as an additional 8,000 related jobs. Ilva produced nearly 8.5 million mt of steel in 2011, nearly 30 percent of Italy’s overall steel output.

Similar articles

Ilva ordered to switch off two blast furnaces

18 Sep | Steel News

Ferrante: Ilva currently operating at 70 percent capacity

31 Aug | Steel News

Ilva stockpiles slabs to ensure operation of finishing lines

27 Aug | Steel News

Italian court confirms shutdown order for Ilva’s production

21 Aug | Steel News

Partial shutdown ordered of Ilva steel plant in southern Italy

27 Jul | Steel News

Ilva idles electrogalvanizing shop until mid-May

30 Apr | Steel News

Italy’s Ilva to maintain crude steel output levels

30 Nov | Steel News

Italian steelmaker Ilva reignites its blast furnace No. 4

21 Apr | Steel News

Italian steelmaker Ilva to test system to sample dioxin emissions

24 Mar | Steel News

Ilva ordered to switch off two blast furnaces

18 Sep | Steel News