Former Ilva, new round on programme agreement on 12 August. The mayor of Taranto's no

New round to map out the future of the former Ilva. On 12 August, at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, an attempt will be made to define the programme agreement for the decarbonisation of the establishment of Taranto. At the table, convened in the presence of and chaired by minister Adolfo Urso, representatives of the Puglia region and the local authorities concerned will sit again, along with those of the other ministries involved (Environment, Health and Interior). The objective is to find a synthesis that can define a common direction and ensure a future for the steel plant, especially as regards the construction of the Dri (Direct Reduced Iron) pole destined to guarantee the necessary pre-drilling for national green steel production.

One of the various knots, around which the local authorities are focusing their assessments, concerns the mooring of a regasifier ship in the port of Taranto to feed the plants. Urso has repeatedly emphasised that the final choice on the hub lies with Taranto but, in the meantime, he has already thought about the alternative, Gioia Tauro, where he visited on 4 August. Meanwhile, the technical committee in charge of assessing the feasibility of the Dri hub in the port area of the Calabrian municipality is already at work. The body is also called upon to investigate issues related to the supply of natural gas, which is essential for the plant's operation. A new meeting will be convened by the end of August, according to the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy.

The pressure from the unions remains constant as they reiterate their position on the revitalisation of the former Ilva. Environmental remediation, decarbonisation and employment guarantees are the three conditions considered essential by the workers' representatives. Fim, Fiom and Uilm reject any hypothesis of downsizing the plan, announcing as of now a 'firm opposition' to this scenario. Words, however, could be followed by deeds, because the metalmechanics also say they are ready 'to put in place initiatives of struggle'. In the meantime, they have planned, for 29 August, 'a moment of information and awareness' aimed at involving all parliamentary political forces. At the moment, the unions themselves report, several groups have responded to the appeal: Italia Viva, Noi Moderati, Avs (Greens and Left Alliance) and Partito Democratico (PD).

Taranto's mayor Piero Bitetti, following the indications of the majority group leaders, has announced 'his opposition to the signing of the programme agreement proposed by the government for the former Ilva plant in Taranto'. The majority group leaders 'consider it superfluous,' they said in a note, 'to convene the municipal council in the coming days because the agreement as formulated is flawed and lacks guarantees for the city'. The mayor is asked not to sign the memorandum of understanding and a new programme agreement is proposed that envisages total decarbonisation within five years. Bitetti calls for the adoption of a special decree-law for Taranto.