Italian steel producer Acciaierie d'Italia (ADI) has been ordered to suspend operations at the hot end of the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto within 90 days, owing to various environmental infractions.
Milan's Court of Appeal ruled that the site is a public health concern, as the 2025 environmental permit failed to adequately address risks associated with asbestos remaining at the site and emissions of fine particulate matter.
ADI was approached for comment, but said it would not speak on the matter for the time being.
For the steel market, the ruling raises the prospect of a significant supply disruption from one of Italy's largest steelmaking assets, casting further doubt on attempts by the Italian government to find an investor that will take over ADI's operations.
A restart of hot-end operations would depend on the company fully removing the remaining asbestos and implementing measures to reduce fine-particle emissions to safe levels.
"Operations across the entire hot-end area will come to a halt as a result," a source close to the company said. "In any case, an emergency government meeting has been called for 5:30pm [today] to address the issues of high energy costs and Ilva, so I expect we will have more information this evening or, at the latest, tomorrow," the same source said.
