The state within Ilva. Government “satisfied”. Calenda: “Mittal won the lottery”

The state returns to manage the former Ilva. After a very long day of continuous postponements, shortly before midnight the agreement between Arcelor Mittal and Invitalia was signed, officially sanctioning the entry of the State into the steelworks. The public hand invests again in the first person twenty-five years after having sold the plants to the Riva group, which managed the production until 2013.

The agreement provides for a capital increase of AmInvest Co. Italy Spa for 400 million euros, which will grant Invitalia 50% of the company’s voting rights. A second capital increase is scheduled for May 2022, which will be subscribed up to 680 million by Invitalia and up to 70 million by Arcelor Mittal. At that time, the company led by Domenico Arcuri will be the majority shareholder with 60% of the capital of the company.

The plant’s decarbonization process is planned, with the activation of an electric furnace capable of producing up to 2.5 million tons per year. Finally, the agreement provides for the complete absorption, on the plan, of the 10,700 workers employed at the plant. For the workforce, a maximum of 3,000 people is expected in 2021, 2,500 in 2022, 1,200 in 2025 and zero from 2025. To these figures must be added the 1,700 workers of Ilva As currently in cash. The “satisfaction” with the agreement is expressed by the Minister of Economic Development, Stefano Patuanelli, and by the Minister of Economy, Roberto Gualtieri, who speak of an agreement that foresees “an important financial commitment on the part of the Italian State and represents an important step towards the decarbonization of the Taranto plant by starting the production of steel with less polluting processes ”.

Finally, the Government accepts the request made by the Puglia Region, the Municipality of Taranto and other territorial representatives “for the opening of a discussion table to accompany, monitor and accelerate the transition to new green productions and share interventions for environmental rehabilitation and economic revitalization of the city and the Taranto area “.

The comment from the unions is entrusted to the leader of Fim Cisl Roberto Benaglia: “After months of uncertainty, today a new stage opens for the old Ilva plant in Taranto and all the Group’s plants in Italy. The presence of the State in the new structure of the Group must translate into an element of guarantee, but one that is capable of generating prospects and industrial results ”.

Critic Carlo Calenda, who has long dealt with Arcelor Mittal when he was Minister of Economic Development. Mittal won the New Years lottery. They made a deal where Mittal stays and instead of giving money, he takes money. There will be no green steel. It is a surreal story ”.