Taranto Mayor Rinaldo Melucci has given Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI) a 30-day ultimatum to reduce benzene emissions from the steelmaker's hot production area at its Taranto plant. Concerns have been raised about the health risks associated with increased levels of benzene in the air from the operation of the steel plant. The city council asked ADI management to identify the equipment responsible for the emissions and take the necessary measures to reverse the upward trend in benzene leakage.
If an effective solution is not implemented, the city council mandated the closure of the hot end area, in particular the blast furnaces, the coke area and the smelting workshops within a reasonable period of time to ensure safety. This closure will take place no later than 60 days from the receipt of the council's letter.
Although most of the environmental work in Taranto has been completed, some critical issues remain unresolved due to the refusal of the Taranto court to lift the order to confiscate the equipment.
In 2021, TAR Puglia had ordered the company to shut down the hot end in Taranto within 60 days due to excessive emissions. However, the Italian Council of State ruled that ArcelorMittal Italia (now ADI) was not obliged to close the plant. ADI, a joint venture between state-owned Invitalia and ArcelorMittal, recently restarted blast furnace No. 2 in Taranto, which had been idle since July.
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