One of the three blast furnaces at the ArcelorMittal-run Ilva steel plant in Taranto, Italy, can resume operations according to an Italian court ruling on Tuesday, Jan 7.
The court direction comes despite allegations of violations of environmental and safety norms at the plant.
The rule revived the hope for ArcelorMittal’s attempt to acquire the Ilva steel plant, as against simply operate it.
The ruling allows the plant 12 months to ensure its furnaces comply with environmental and safety rules.
ArcelorMittal has pledged to spend € 1.2bn between 2018-23 on meeting environmental norms and €1.3bn to ramp up production at Taranto to 8mn mt/yr from 6mn mt/yr.