The Milan Court upholds decision to halt Acciaierie d’Italia’s hot-end operations

According to reports in the Italian press, the court rejected the application filed by the lawyers representing Acciaierie d’Italia and the extraordinary administration of Ilva to suspend the enforcement of the decision. As a result, the ruling issued at the end of July, which ordered hot-end operations to be suspended within 90 days, remains in effect.

Companies appeal to the supreme court

Acciaierie d’Italia and the extraordinary administration of Ilva also appealed to Italy’s supreme court against the ruling issued in July. However, the supreme court’s decision may be announced after the October 28 deadline set for the suspension of operations at the plant.

The companies’ lawyers argued that shutting down the hot-end operations could cause serious and irreversible damage to the steelworks. They claimed that the decision could result in the closure of the plant and lead to thousands of job losses or the implementation of temporary layoff measures.

The court, however, ruled that despite the economic consequences cited by the companies, the right to health of residents in Taranto should take precedence. Concerns over the presence of asbestos at the plant and fine particulate emissions were also raised during the proceedings underlying the ruling.

Unions call on government to act

Daniela Fumarola, secretary general of the Italian General Confederation of Labour, said the ruling had made the situation surrounding the former Ilva more complex and that the next steps by the government and company management were now awaited. Fumarola stressed the need to ensure the continuation of steel production while protecting workers, the environment, health and safety.

Metalworkers’ unions Fim, Fiom and Uilm also called on the government in a joint statement to resume talks on the future of the former Ilva. The unions called for workers to be protected and layoffs to be halted.

Following the latest ruling, October 28, 2026 will be a key date in determining the future of hot-end operations at the Taranto plant.