The Italian government has given the final go-ahead to unlock a €149 million bridge loan for Acciaierie d’Italia (AdI), formerly Ilva, the steelmaker based in Taranto in the south of Italy. The move follows the publication of the implementation decree by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy in the country’s Official Gazette.
As previously reported by SteelOrbis, the European Commission approved the rescue loan on February 9, ruling that the measure would not affect competition or trade within the internal market. Subsequently, on March 14 and 17, AdI’s extraordinary commissioners highlighted the "urgent need for the disbursement of funding" in light of the severe liquidity crisis affecting the proceedings. According to the commissioners, a prolonged lack of funds could jeopardize the operational continuity of the plants and negatively impact ongoing negotiations for the sale of the assets.
The primary objective of the loan is twofold: to guarantee payments to suppliers and the procurement of raw materials necessary to avoid production halts and to support urgent interventions at the plants, which are essential for maintaining safety levels and ensuring industrial efficiency.
The government’s approval allows the extraordinary commissioners of Acciaierie d’Italia to access the liquidity immediately, with a commitment to repay the full amount within six months of the disbursement date. Notably, two of the main international groups interested in acquiring the steel hub - India’s Jindal and the UK-based Flacks Group - have already formally expressed their willingness to reimburse the €149 million to the Italian state should they successfully acquire the company.
An industry-research agreement for sustainable transition
In the meantime, Acciaierie d’Italia has signed an agreement with Tecnopolo Mediterraneo per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (Mediterranean Technopole for Sustainable Development). The partnership focuses on sustainability, energy efficiency, decarbonization, the use of hydrogen, sustainable fuels and the circular economy.
"The synergy between institutions, businesses and the world of research can transform the challenge of the energy and digital transition into a concrete opportunity for sustainable development for the region," commented Maurizio Saitta, general manager of AdI.
Echoing this sentiment, Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli, president of Tecnopolo Mediterraneo, emphasized that the agreement confirms the goal of building an innovation ecosystem oriented toward sustainability and local development.
