An important meeting is underway at Palazzo Chigi between the government and the metalworking unions, including Fiom-Cgil, Fim-Cisl, Uilm-Uil, Usb and Ugl metalworkers, to discuss the future of the former Ilva of Taranto.
Among the government representatives present at the meeting are the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, the Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Marina Calderone, the Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti (via video link), and the undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council, Alfredo Mantovano. The extraordinary commissioners of Acciaierie d’Italia (Adi) also participate in the meeting.
At the center of the debate is the industrial plan, which will be presented in Brussels to obtain the green light for the 320 million euro bridge loan for the company.
Fiom CGIL declared that it was not available to discuss new long-term plans and reiterated the need to apply the 2018 plan, underlining that resources are needed to implement it.
The USB announced that the government will present a new rule to move another 150 million euros from Ex Ilva to Acciaierie d’Italia (Adi), adding that the total funds allocated to the Taranto company will be 620 million euros, considering the 150 million already disbursed.
An industrial plan was also discussed which includes a production target of 6 million tonnes by 2026, with coal-fired production, and the construction of electric furnaces from 2026 to 2029. However, according to USB, this plan could lead to further layoffs, with the risk of excluding 4,500 workers from the world of work.
It was announced that in May some interested companies will visit the former Ilva plant in Taranto, while in the first half of 2025 work will begin on the construction of two electric furnaces, intended to replace the same number of blast furnaces, which will come into operation in 2027.
Currently, the Taranto plant is in reduced operation, with only Afo 4 operational, while Afo 1 and Afo 2 are down for maintenance.
