Liberty Galați steel plant may resume operations after October 15

The Liberty Galați steel plant may resume operations after October 15 through a tolling arrangement, where the facility processes raw materials for external clients. Initial contracts have been secured for 23,000 tons of products, including hot-rolled coils and organic coated steel, for clients such as Glencore from the United Kingdom and Kaiseri Metal Center from Turkey.

If the restart proceeds, approximately 1,000 of the plant's 2,000 employees could return to work. However, the resumption is not guaranteed, as the ability to pay for the high electricity costs required for production remains a primary obstacle. Technical preparations, including equipment checks and furnace heating, are also necessary for the restart.

The plant faces significant financial instability. Employees have reported unpaid wages dating back to May, and previous attempts to sell the facility for sums between 463 million and 709 million euros have failed. Administrators are now considering a new strategy of selling through direct negotiation, a move that requires creditor approval. Proceeds from a potential sale could be used to settle outstanding employee salaries.