Overview

• A fire on May 7 led to the seizure of Blast Furnace 1 by prosecutors, halting its operation and potentially causing irreversible structural damage.
• Production at the Taranto plant has been reduced by 50%, prompting Acciaierie d’Italia to request cassa integrazione for nearly 4,000 workers across multiple sites.
• The unresolved Integrated Environmental Authorization, with over 700 costly requirements, complicates a stalled sale to Baku Steel, threatening the plant's privatization plans.
• Three executives face legal indictments over alleged safety violations linked to the furnace fire, intensifying scrutiny of plant operations.
• The Italian government has allocated €100 million in emergency funding to sustain operations, but concerns over long-term viability persist.