The decree issued by Italian government aimed at ensuring domestic steelmaker Ilva's steel production has started to have a positive impact on activity at Ilva's Taranto steel complex. On December 5, the company reopened its downstream facilities which had been closed right after the Court of Taranto recently ordered the seizure of finished and semi-finished products produced by Ilva between July 26 and November 26.
According to Italian business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, since yesterday Ilva has restarted its hot rolling mill No. 1, finishing mill No. 2, pipe mill No. 1, its ERW pipe welding line and the related coating line No. 1, its pipe services facilities and part of its cold rolling mill. On the other hand, due to scarce demand, Ilva's plate mill, pipe mill No. 2 and related coating line No. 2, and parts of its cold rolling mill have remained closed.
Together with the restart of the downstream facilities, Ilva has started to implement the Environmental Integrated Authorization (EIA) of Italy's environment ministry. As of today, the company has started to turn off the coke oven batteries Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6, which are due to be reconstructed. The coke ovens in question feed the blast furnace No.1, which is due to be switched off as well in the coming period.
Italy's Minister of Economic Development, Corrado Passera, expressed a positive outlook regarding the upgrade program for Ilva's facilities, stating, "In the future, Ilva will be a major company which will have carried out important investments targeting health and production at the same time. It will remain a major steel producer." On the other hand, it is still thought that the Court of Taranto could declare the recent government decree to be unconstitutional. Referring to this possibility, Italian environment minister Corrado Clini stated, "I am interested in starting the environmental program, and I hope that no one will oppose this goal which everyday becomes more urgent."