Reorganisation

Former Ilva: Italian industry’s plan to be unveiled shortly

Expressions of interest for the cold area are expected by the end of the week

by Paolo Bricco and Domenico Palmiotti

18 August 2026

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3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The call for expressions of interest regarding the cold-rolling section of the former Ilva site is expected – possibly as early as this week – and will be signed by Antonio Gozzi, president of Federacciai.

According to *Il Sole-24 Ore*, the non-binding expression of interest will take an open form, allowing the various Italian steel companies to come forward as and when, with the resumption of industrial and financial activities, their senior management determines the extent of the commitment each can guarantee.

Doubts about the penalty area

Meanwhile, as the Italian consortium steps up its efforts, the wider context is beginning to feel the effects of the decision by the commissioners to appeal to the Court of Cassation seeking a ruling on the legality of the (second-instance) judgement handed down by the Court of Milan. The Milan Court’s decision has reshaped the scenario, removing the hot zone from the playing field. This reshaping has also led to the decision by the Italian consortium to submit an expression of interest. The fear – reported by *Il Sole 24 Ore* from ministerial and political circles – is that a ruling by the Court of Cassation in favour of the commissioners’ appeal could bring everything back to square one. At that point, what would happen?

The commissioners’ decision also appears to have stemmed from the need to reassure the supplier companies operating within the ‘hot zone’ and which, consequently, are owed money and have ongoing contracts. The issue, in fact, is the risk that – should the abolition of the ‘hot zone’ be finalised in law and in practice – the contracts would be rendered null and void, leading the companies to initiate legal proceedings against the special administrators.

According to *Il Sole 24 Ore*, there are around twenty companies operating in the hot-work sector, employing 2,000 people in manufacturing and services directly linked to the integrated cycle. In particular, ten of these companies are in a critical situation. Confindustria Taranto, Confapi Taranto and Aigi are monitoring the repercussions of the Milan Court of Appeal’s ruling on a day-to-day and hour-by-hour basis.

Tensions in the supply chain’s finance sector

On 30 July, Acciaierie d’Italia, currently under special administration, paid the invoices from its supply chain that were issued in January and February and due in May. It is unclear what will happen with the other invoices due for payment. The hope is that the funds from the fourth and final instalment of 41 million – part of the 390 million bridge loan authorised by the EU for the former Ilva – will be used: the government has already disbursed the first three tranches, amounting to 149 million, 100 million and, again, 100 million respectively. This is the hope of the businesses, which emphasise that between 60 and 70 per cent of Acciaierie d’Italia’s contracts are linked to the hot rolling mill; these would, in fact, lapse because, from the end of October, the hot rolling mill will no longer exist.

This sequence of events – the judges’ decision to remove the matter from the docket, the formation of the Italian consortium, the commissioners’ appeal to the Court of Cassation, and tensions within the related industries – encapsulates the full paradox, the full danger and the full critical nature of the crisis surrounding the former Ilva.