Shutdown of furnaces at ex-ILVA steelworks begins

Operations to close the blast furnaces at the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto have commenced following a court ruling. The Supreme Court upheld a previous decision mandating the shutdown due to health concerns related to asbestos and emissions. The future of the plant and its decarbonization plan remains uncertain, impacting thousands of jobs. A consortium led by Federacciai has opted not to bid for the cold-rolled production area, while other groups, including Jindal and CE Industries, have shown interest in purchasing the facility. The Italian government may consider state involvement due to the plant's strategic significance. Prosecutors are investigating former executives for emissions-related issues.