[Italy Keeps Taranto Blast Furnaces Hot by Decree as Acciaierie d’Italia Halts Production and Turns to Slab Tolling]
Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI), operator of the former Ilva steelworks, halted hot production at its Taranto plant on October 9. A government decree dated October 13 allows the blast furnaces to be kept hot until the Supreme Court publishes its reasoning, expected no later than December 15. ADI’s Genoa and Novi Ligure plants, which produce flat steel from Taranto coils, will cease operations by November 15. To keep material flowing, ADI has signed tolling agreements to roll about 365,000 tonnes of slabs with leading Italian customers, including Marcegaglia and Eusider.