Taranto steel plant transition to electric furnaces expected to take three years

The transition of the former Ilva steel plant in Taranto toward electric arc furnaces and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) production is expected to take approximately three years. Giovanni Fiori, extraordinary commissioner of Acciaierie d’Italia, stated that the shutdown of the hot area accelerates an inevitable decarbonization process required by European regulations by 2030, rather than changing the plant's long-term trajectory.

During hearings before the Senate's Ninth Commission regarding strategic national plants, Puglia Region President Antonio Decaro called for a “special law for Taranto.” He proposed an “Agenda Taranto” to protect employment levels and ensure the future of the steel industry. Decaro emphasized the need for economic diversification, noting potential growth in sectors such as offshore production and technological innovation to mitigate the impact of the steel plant's crisis on direct workers and the local supply chain.