The Council of Ministers has given the green light to the decree law for Ilva. Among the measures is the maintenance of the functionality of the Taranto plants, encouraging the reindustrialization of the former Ilva areas, attracting new investments in the Taranto area and supporting the relocation of the workers involved in the crisis. In particular, the heating of the plants in the hot area is foreseen until the ruling of the Supreme Court.
The disbursement of the last tranche of the loan is also expected, amounting to 40.5 million in favor of Acciaierie d'Italia in AS, based on the decision of the European Commission last February.
The measure for maintaining the heating of the plants in the hot area will concern the coke batteries 7, 8, 9 and 12 and the cowpers of the blast furnaces 1, 2 and 4. Among other measures, the reindustrialization of the former Ilva areas (about 100 hectares) and of the maritime and military state property areas adjacent to the Taranto plant is envisaged.
The provision assigns the Mimit the task of collecting and coordinating expressions of interest relating to investments exceeding 10 million euros located in the former Ilva industrial areas and in the adjacent state-owned areas. The ministry will prepare an investment plan to be submitted for approval by the Council of Ministers, for the purposes of the declaration of strategic interest and the appointment of the commissioner. The extraordinary commissioner will also coordinate the investment plan with the interventions envisaged by the Institutional Development Contract for Taranto, also to guarantee the infrastructural conditions necessary for the realization of the projects.
The provision also authorizes the commissioner body of Ilva in As, as part of the procedure for the transfer of the company complex to third parties, to sell separately or give management to interested parties the areas to be reindustrialised, provided that the related initiatives are included in the Investment Plan. The decree also provides for a "preferential lane" for development contracts relating to the projects included in the Investment Plan, also in derogation of the chronological order of examination of the applications. Beneficiary companies that expect an increase in employment will have to undertake to hire ex-Ilva and related workers as a priority.
The establishment of the "Brindisi-Taranto" industrial district is then planned for the acceleration of net zero emissions technologies, with the aim of promoting decarbonisation and sustainable industrial development in the area. Simplified procedures are foreseen, also in environmental matters, for the establishment of new production activities. A total exemption from contributions is foreseen for employers who, from 1 November 2026 to 31 December 2027, hire permanent employees of Acciaierie d'Italia and Ilva in AS. The disbursement of one million euros per year is foreseen for the Taranto Technopole, intended to strengthen research, development and innovation and technological transfer, also through strengthening the workforce of industrial researchers and specialized technicians.
