Italian steel producer Ilva has issued a press release announcing the closure of its Taranto-based steel complex and the halting of all other activities which rely on the complex’s production for feedstocks. The announcement follows the order issued by the prosecutor’s office in Taranto on Monday, November 26 for the seizure of the steel products produced by locally-based steel producer Ilva in the last four months. 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.
In its latest statement, Ilva highlighted that operations at its Taranto-based facility had been permitted by the Environmental Integrated Authorization (EIA) drawn up by Italy’s Ministry of Environment and sent to the company on October 26, adding that the order for seizure of its steel product stockpiles is in conflict with the EIA. In this context, Ilva stated that it will take action against the seizure but in the meantime it will comply with the order.
“It [the seizure order] will unequivocally entail the impossibility of commercializing such products and, in consequence, the stoppage of every operation as well as the closure of the Taranto-based facilities and of all those facilities of the group the operations of which depend on supplies originating in Taranto,” the company statement reads.
Ilva also said that it has provided survey data compiled by major representatives of the scientific community, certifying that the emissions from the Taranto steelworks not only comply with the threshold levels set by laws, regulations and ministerial authorizations, but also do not cause harm to public health.