Italian judges have confirmed the ruling they issued earlier this month preventing production at Italy's largest steel plant, Taranto-based Ilva, because of longstanding environmental problems at the site.
Ilva management had argued that the August 7 ruling allowed operations to continue while upgrades were made to improve safety conditions. However, in an explanation of its ruling, the Italian judges have made clear that production operations are to be shut down.
Ilva produced 8.5 million metric tons in 2011, nearly 30 percent of Italy's total steel output. It is one of the few big industrial plants in southern Italy.