Mimit, updated ex-Ilva tender: decarbonisation requirement arrives

Mimit announces that the call for tenders for the sale of the company assets of Ilva and Acciaierie d'Italia has been updated. Compared to the previous version,' reads a note, 'the decarbonisation of the Taranto site is no longer an option, but becomes a binding obligation. "The interested parties will have to commit to the shutdown of the hot coal-fired areas as soon as possible, to the construction of up to a maximum of three electric furnaces to cover the entire authorised production capacity, and to full compliance with the requirements of the new AIA (Integrated Environmental Authorisation)," Mimit explains.

"The updated announcement," the Mimit note explains, "incorporates the most recent developments in the environmental and industrial spheres, starting with the new Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IEA) issued for the Taranto site on 25 July, valid for 12 years and with an authorised production capacity of up to 6 million tonnes per year. In line with the national strategy for the ecological transition, the government also ensures its support, also through the public company Dri d'Italia, for the construction of pre-reduction plants to feed the future electric furnaces'.

The decarbonisation obligation, it says, 'is the result of the agreement reached on 31 July at Mimit by Minister Urso with the national institutions, the Puglia Region and the local authorities, which expressed a unanimous and decisive agreement in favour of full decarbonisation, according to the fastest and most technologically challenging project'. "At the same time, employment protection remains an unwavering principle, fully shared and strengthened by the constant dialogue with the trade unions. A further novelty concerns the plant in Genoa (Cornigliano): the construction of an electric furnace and first processing plants functional to the site's activity can be envisaged. Compared to the previous tender, the new binding offer will also have to provide for the purchase of the entire warehouse and include a new version of the industrial plan. The latter will have to specify the number of employees the bidder intends to keep in the company perimeter, as well as the duration of the commitment in terms of employment and business continuity'.

"The new invitation to tender allows the purchase of the entire company complex, the northern business compendium, the southern business compendium or individual company branches. However, all things being equal, preference will be given to those solutions that best guarantee production continuity and employment protection. The extraordinary commissioners will evaluate the proposals according to criteria of industrial, environmental and social sustainability, reserving the right to activate any relaunch and negotiation phases. All other things being equal, preference will be given to new binding offers that envisage, while respecting the maximum limit, the construction of a greater number of electric furnaces, the achievement of decarbonisation targets within the shortest possible timeframe and, once fully operational, the achievement of the highest production level with respect to the maximum production capacity authorised by the new AIA,' the ministry explained. 'Binding offers,' the note concludes, 'must be submitted by 15 September 2025. The draft of the new sale and purchase agreement will be available in the data room by 31 August'.

The meeting of 12 August is confirmed. On that occasion the mayor of Taranto should state what he intends to do about the proposals that have been formulated for months with clarity and transparency'. Thus the Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, speaking to Sky TG24. "The mayor has asked us several times to postpone the meeting to convene the city council to discuss the plan. Yesterday he informed us that it is not necessary, that the majority group leaders made the decision. What previously seemed an absolutely necessary condition is no longer so necessary,' said Urso