Politics · Italy · 8 hrs ago
Italy's top court weighs whether Taranto steelworks must shut
Italy’s Supreme Court is reviewing an order to shut the steelworks’ central production area at the former Ilva plant in Taranto.
The Milan Court of Appeal ordered the area to stop operating, citing fine-particle pollution and asbestos in the furnaces.
The companies running the plant under special administration challenged that order, but their request to suspend it was rejected.
The Supreme Court can uphold the shutdown, cancel it, or send the case back to the Milan court, and its decision is expected soon but not necessarily today.
The shutdown deadline is October 25, while a government measure allows the plant to remain in a low-heat standby state without production until December 15.
Even if the court cancels the order, restarting production could take about three months because raw materials must be bought and shipped to Taranto and the equipment restarted.
The companies and the government are due to discuss the next steps at a meeting on October 27.
Italy’s top court is hearing appeals over an order to shut down the hot area of the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto.
Ilva and Acciaierie d’Italia challenged the Milan appeals court’s shutdown decree.
The order cites health risks linked to fine-particle emissions and asbestos in the blast furnaces.
The 90-day deadline for stopping the furnaces and steelworks is October 25.
The government has allowed the plants to remain in a non-producing preheating state until December 15 while the top court considers the case.
- Who
- The Civil Sections United of Italy’s Court of Cassation are hearing appeals by Ilva and Acciaierie d’Italia.
- What
- The court is considering whether to uphold, annul or refer back an order to stop the steelworks’ hot area.
- When
- The hearing begins on October 20, 2026. A ruling is expected soon, but not necessarily on the day.
- Where
- The former Ilva steelworks in Taranto, Italy.
- Why
- Milan judges ordered the shutdown over health concerns, citing fine-particle emissions and asbestos in the blast furnaces.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Milan appeals court issued an enforceable decree ordering the hot area to stop.
The Milan court held hearings and maintained the decree.
The Court of Cassation began hearing the companies’ appeals.
The 90-day deadline for stopping the blast furnaces and steelworks is due to expire.
The government’s authorization for the plants to remain in preheating mode is due to expire.
- Hearing
- October 20, 2026, from 10 a.m.
- Companies appealing
- Ilva and Acciaierie d’Italia
- Shutdown deadline
- October 25
- Preheating authorization
- Until December 15
- Proposed extraordinary furlough
- 8,622 of 9,626 employees